The Pennsylvania Militia In 1777

THE PENNSYLVANIA MILITIA IN 1777 BY HANNAH BENNER ROACH, FOSS., F.A.S.G. The organization of the Pennsylvania militia, as established under the act passed 17 March 1777,1 has never been adequately explained or fully understood. Complete records pertaining to the militia have not survived. Those which have been published in the various series of the Pennsylvania Archives are, in many instances, incorrectly identified and arranged in a confused manner. Too often, as a result, the fact that a man's name appears in those records has been accepted as prima facie evidence that the man was a patriot who served his country faithfully and diligently. The dual purpose of this study, therefore, is to render intelligible the meaning of those records, and then to relate them to the actual operation of the militia, with particular reference to the first year of its operation under the act. In histories of the American Revolution, the emphasis has always been on the Continental Army. It was composed of volunteers from the thirteen colonies who had enlisted for varying terms of service—six months, a year, three years, or for the duration. These men were the backbone of Washington's army. They were the men who marched back and forth, north and south, for seven long years throughout the thirteen states. Between the summer of 1775 and the end of 1776, Pennsylvania sent twelve battalions or regiments of volunteers to that army. These were recruited for the service of the United Colonies, and furnished Pennsylvania's quota of men requested by Congress. They were known as the Pennsylvania Line of the Continental Army. In addition, other men throughout Pennsylvania in 1775 banded together of their own accord to form fifty-three battalions of mihtary "Associators," as they called themselves. Volunteers from these "associated" battalions, singly and in "An Act to Regulate the Militia of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania," Chapter DCCL, Statutes at Large of Pennsylvania . . . , DC, 71-94; hereinafter cited as Stahttes. 161 162 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine companies, formed part of the Flying Camp sent to New Jersey in the summer of 1776. 2 These "Associators," and the Pennsylvania Line, all of whom were voluntters, were the men who bore the burden of war in Pennsylvania until the passage of the militia act of 1777, when the State for the first time had a draft law. Under this draft law, all males between the ages of 18 and 53, capable of bearing arms, were to serve for two months on active duty. If they refused to turn out when regularly called, they would be fined stated amounts. Exceptions to the draft at first included only delegates in Congress, members of the Supreme Executive Council, judges of the Supreme Court, masters and teachtrs of colleges, ministers of the Gospel, and bona fide indentured servants. Others, however, could evade service by providing a substitute, or by paying the fine assessed against him; the money collected from these fines was then used to hire a substitute in the place of the draftee. As provided for in the act, eight battalion districts were to be set up in the city of Philadelphia and in each of Pennsylvania's eleven counties. Each battalion district was to be determined on a geographic basis so as to include between 440 and 680 men fit for duty, their names being obtained from the tax rolls. One battalion district generally included several adjacent townships, depending on the population concentration. In Philadelphia County, for instance, one battahon district included Bristol, Springfield, Roxborough and Germantown Townships. Another included Plymouth, Whitemarsh, Whitpain, Upper and Lower Providence, Norriton and Worcester Townships. Thus, when one is searching for the services of a particular man, it is necessary to know his usual place of residence, for it determined the militia battalion to which he belonged. In each of these battalion districts, the men were then to be subdivided into eight companies forming one battalion, each company numbering about 80 or 100 men. Usually all of the men in one company were from the same neighborhood. The implementation of these details in each county was under the direction of a County Lieutenant, holding the rank of colonel, assisted by several sub-lieutenants, ranking as lieutenant colonels. They were civilian employees, however, and are not to be confused with the military 2 For I discussion of the political situation which preceded the passing of the militia act of 1777. see Arthur J. Alexander, "Pennsylvania's Revolutionary Militia," The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography (PMHB), LX1X (1045), 15. For brief accounts of the operation, of each of the regiments of the Pennsylvania Line, fee Pennsylvania Archives, 2nd series, X. For the articles of association subscribed to by the Associated Battalions, see ibid., 1011, 213, 300 and for the colonels in command of those battalions in 1771, 257. An adequate history of the Plying Camp has yet to be written, but for some rolls of companies in it, see ibid., XIV, 757-773; XV, 629-644, 649-652. Hereinafter the Pennsylvania Archives will be cited by Series and volume only, unless otherwise noted. The Pennsylvania Militia in 1777 163 officers holding the same ranks. The duties of these County Lieutenants also included seeing that the militia in their counties was alerted for service, provided with arms and accountrements at the expense of the State, finding substitutes to take the place of those refusing to go on active duty, and assessing and collecting fines.' The men in each battalion elected their own field officers: colonel, lieutenant colonel, major. These officers were subject to duty for three years and were commissioned by the State. In each county the colonels drew for their individual rank, which was then assigned to their battalion —as First, Second, or Third Battalion, etc. In 1780, when new elections were held for field officers, the colonels so elected again drew for their rank, with a resultant alteration taking place in the number of the battalion. Thus the First Battalion of Philadelphia County in 1777, became in 1780 the Fifth Battalion as a result of this new drawing. These battalion field officers were in command of the eight companies comprising their battalion. Under them were the captains and subaltern officers of the individual companies elected by the men composing each company. The companies, in turn, were each broken down into eight classes when the men drew lots for the classes in which they were to serve. The names of all the men in each company of each battalion, were listed by company in a permanent roll. These rolls of all the men of draft age fit for duty were usually called "General Returns of the Battalion." On this permanent roll, after the name of the private was entered the name of his substitute, if he himself furnished one, noted if he had served his tour of duty himself or paid a fine for not serving, with the date so paid, as well as other pertinent remarks, such as "can't be found," "gone to sea," "in Continental service," "past age as per appeal," or similar information. On these permanent billet rolls the men in each company are listed by class, beginning with the 1st Class, then the 2nd Class, 3rd Class, and so on. The first duty of the County Lieutenants was to acquire from the local constables, within ten days of the receipt of the militia act, "a true and exact list of the names . . . of each and every male white person' . who resided within the county, was capable of bearing arms, and was within the established age limits. Within five days of the receipt of these lists, the Lieutenants were thm to divide their counties into battalion districts. The battalion formed in a district was then to be sub-divided into eight equal companies within the succeeding five days. During the next ten days, the members of the battalion were to elmt three freeholders for their field officers, and etch company its officers. The names of all the officers war then to be submitted to the Supreme Executive Council for the granting of commissions. Within three days of the elections, the companies were to be divided by lot into eight classes each. The names of the mm in each clew were to be sent to the County Lieutenant within the next six days. Under this program, therefore, a maximum of forty days was established for the initial organization of the militia. For maniples of thew General Returns for the city of Philadelphia, see 6th Series, I, 35, for First Battalion; 121, Second Battalion; 188, Third Battalion; 280, Fourth Battalion; 335, Fifth Battalion; 404, Sixth The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine 164 Each of these classes theoretically was liable to be called up in rotation for two months' active duty: the 1st Class to be called up first, the 2nd Class next, the 3rd Class after that, and so on down to the 8th Class, after which the callup started all over again with the 1st Class. During 1777, except in the city after it was occupied by the British, all eight classes in the southeastern counties of the state—Bucks, Berks, Chester, Lancaster and Philadelphia Counties—were called out. When the several classes were called up for active duty, a separate roll for each company was made out which listed the men who actually served, either in person or as substitutes. This was an active-duty roll, not to be confused with the permanent billet roll. Thus, when the 1st Class was called up in a particular county, all 1st Class men in each of the eight companies of every battalion in that county were called up. This new active-duty roll generally was called a "Return of the First Class Battalion" of that county.' These active-duty rolls can usually be distinguished from the permanent rolls by the fact that the men are not listed by individual classes as they are in the permanent rolls, but by company captain. As established in the militia act, the men so called up were automatically assigned to companies whose numbers were not the same as their company numbers on the permanent rolls, but were instead the numbers of the battalions from which the men came. Thus men listed on the permanent roll as belonging to the 2nd Class of the 7th Company of the Sixth Battalion, for instance, in the active-duty battalion were automatically placed in the 6th Company of the Second (active-duty) Battalion. As the company captain and subaltern officers were also called up, it is helpful to know who they were, since their identity furnishes a clue to the permanent class, company and battalion to which a man belonged: Rotation of Company Officers in Active-Dnty Battalions° Class Called Up 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 9th Captain 1st Co. 2nd Co. 3rd Co. 4th Co. f th CO. 6th Co. 7th Co. 8th Co. 1st Lt. 20d Co. 1st Co. 4th Co. 3rd Co. 6th CO. 5th Co. 8th Co. 7th Co. 2nd Lt. 3rd Co. 4th Co. 1st Co. 2nd Co. 7th CO. 8th Co. 5th Co. 6th Co. Ensign 4th Co. 3rd Co. 2nd Co. 1st Co. 8th Co. 7th Co. 6th Co. 5th Co. ', For examples of these Returns for Philadelphia city militia, see ibid., 74, for 1s5 Class men on duty in First Battalion; 142, in Second Battalion; 214, in Third Battalion; 302, in Fourth Battalion; 360, in Fifth Battalion; 423, in Sixth Battalion. 0 See &cassia, IX, 81 - 82. for the rotation, here set up in tabulated form for easier reference. The Pennsylvania Militia in 1777 165 Battalion field officers—colonel, lieutenant colonel and major—were called into active duty in the same order. Thus, when the 1st Class was called up, the colonel of the First Battalion, the lieutenant colonel of the Second Battalion, and major of the Third Battalion entered into service in command of the 1st Class active-duty battalion. For the 2nd Class, the colonel of the Second Battalion, lieutenant colonel of the First Battalion, and major of the Fourth Battalion entered into service in command of the 2nd Class active-duty battalion. For the rotation of field officers on active duty, therefore, substitute in the tabulation above, Colonel for Captain, Lieutenant Colonel for 1st Lieutenant, Major for 2nd Lieutenant, and in the columns under each, Battalion for Company. After the tour of duty was over, all privates and company and field officers resumed their permanent battalion billets. Therefore there should be two basic records for the same man: his permanent billet record, and his active-duty record. Unfortunately not all of these have survived for 1777, so that the service or the permanent billet in many cases has to be inferred from other sources. Semetimes this may be done by reference to the surviving rolls for 1778, of which many more are extant, to incidental references to the company captains' activities, when the full company roll no longer survives, or to specific pension applications mentioning the company and captain to which and under whom it is known an individual belonged and served. Now, when the classes were called up it was the specific duty for each captain to see that every man in his company was notified to report for active duty. These notices, left at the man's dwelling or place of business, have sometimes been interpreted to mean that those notified actually served. However, they were merely notification of call-up—the eighteenth century version of the "Greetings" so familiar to veterans of the twentieth century's World Wars. Sometimes the lists of those notified will have entered after the man's name remarks added at a later time, indicating whether he did serve, wanted a substitute, couldn't be found, or was excused for a valid reason.' Once the men were notified and had actually turned out for duty, the next lists made up were company muster rolls listing the men in their new arrangement. Some muster rolls include the date when duty began, or in the case of officers, the date of their commission, and often had pertinent comments added, such as "on command," that is, detached on special duty, "on furlough," or "deserted," with the date of desertion. These muster rolls generally were made out at the place of duty, such as Billingsport, Whitemarsh or Chester; those which survive frequently were made up just before the men were discharged. 5 See 6th Series, I, 53-56, for notices sent so 1s5 Class men. 166 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine Since the battalion field officers had to be kept informed of the condition and ,numbei of men fit for duty in the various companies comprising their command, tabulated company returns were compiled periodically from these company muster rolls. From the company returns, adjutants on the staff of each battalion then compiled battalion returns. These, in turn, were then tabulated by the muster master general of a brigade or his deputy for the information of the brigadier generals, in a general return, not to be confused with the General Returns, mentioned previously in which each man was listed individually in each company of a battalion. Company returns, battalion returns, and brigade returns were all usually filled out on standard printed forms when these were available. They included items which listed by number only the number of staff, ommissioned and non-commissioned officers present at the time of compilation, the number of men in the ranks fit for duty, sick in camp, sick absent from camp, those absent on command duty, on furlough, discharged since the last return, desertions, and total strength. The only names which appeared on these returns were those of the senior officer in command of the particular group: company captain, or battalion field officer. To a large extent those returns which have survived furnish the basic information from which the actual service of a clan called to active duty can be determined. Additional lists of names were kept. These were part of the financial accounts of the various County Lieutenants and their assistants, and are generally referred to as "Fine Lists," but appear in the Archives under the heading of "State of Accounts" of the several County Lieutenants. Some of these are printed in the 3rd Series of the Archives, Volumes V, VI, VII; others, printed only in pamphlet form, are deposited in the Rare Book Room of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. These accounts show fines assessed against individuals for non-performance of duty when called out, and also fines for non-attendance on exercise days. The lists are based on the permanent rolls; some are better than others in the way they are set up, others are missing so far as printed records are concerned. They are not indexed, but if the battalion and company of a man is once determined from a General Return, or even from a notice calling to duty, he can be located in the appropriate list, if he paid a fine. 8 The variations in the amounts of the fines on these lists is not too clear. The militia act specified that fines were to be paid for non-attendance on exercise or drill days, but was not specific for non-performance of active duty, since the cost of getting a substitute was to be charged 5 .A general summarization of monies received and paid out by the County Lieutenants, preceding these lists, usually includes references by number to the lute. The Pennsylvania Militia in 1777 167 against the person not serving, and was recovered by distress and sale of goods and chattels.° For non-performance of drill (exercise) privates were fined at the rate of Is. for each absence, except on field or battalion days, when the whole battalion drilled, when the rate of fine was 7s. 6d. for each battalion day missed. Officers were fined 10s. on drill days, and lIs. on field days. In Philadelphia, fines for the non-performance of their tour of duty, assessed against members of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Classes, all called up during the summer of 1777, varied between £22 10s. and £30 8s. Members of the 4th, 5th and 6th Classes of Philadelphia city militia, called up early in September when news had arrived of the actual approach of the British, were fined £37 10s. for failing to turn out for duty. After the end of December 1777, when the Assembly passed a supplement to the militia act, the fine was set at £40 for non-performance of active duty. This was increased by statute in April 1779, to L100.' Exercise or drill days for companies, as determined by the militia act of 1777, were to be held twice in April, three times in May, twice in August and September, and once in October. A battalion parade day, when all companies in a battalion were to turn out at the same time, was to be held in May and again in October. In 1777, the first drill days were scheduled for 21 and 28 April, 5 and 12 May, and battalion day on 26 May." To more fully comprehend the provisions of the militia act and the records discussed above, which were kept as a result of the implementation of the act, it is now necessary to arrange those records in their proper order, and in context with the events which produced those records. What follows hereafter, therefore, does not purport to be a history of the militia during its first year of operation, but is intended as an explanation of the operation of the militia in that period as deduced from the available records. Consequently only incidental reference will 9 Statutes, IX, 80, 83. 00 Passed 26 Dee. 1777, an act "for making more equal the burden of public Defense,. directed thee thereafter each person "not subject to, nor performing duty," was "to be subject to an additional sum equal to what he is charged in the state tax." This was usually referred to as the "double tax." See Chapter DCCLXXIII, Shasta, IX, 167. Four days later 0 30 Dec. 1777, a further supplement to regulate the militia set the for for neglect or refusal to march at £40. See Chapter DCCLXXXI, ibid., 181. On I Apr. 1779, a "Further supplement to an Act to regulate the militia," increased this fine to £150, and for neglect in performing other services, each person was to pay six times "what they were by law obliged to pay," Philadelphians to pay eight times as much. See Chapter DCCCXLIII, ibid., 311. "Ibid., 79-80, Section vii. Exercise days were set on the two last Mondays in April, August and September, and the three first Mondays in May, battalion days on the fourth Monday in May and in Octoba. 168 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine be made to the overall movements of the Continental Army under Washington, and then only as it touched on the movements of the militia. As outlined above, the militia act set up a detailed method of organization which called for the full implementation of its provisions within a period of six weeks. But on 5 April 1777, before even a month had elapsed since the passage of the act, the alarming news reached Philadelphia of the "probability of Gen'l Howe's intention of marchinF across New Jersey to this City." Although no Pennsylvania county mihtia was as yet even partially organized according to the provisions of the act, the Supreme Executive Council immediately sent off letters to such County Lieutenants as had been appointed, warning them of the situation and urging all possible speed in the organization of their battalion districts. The same day John Armstrong, John Cadwalader, James Potter and Samuel Meredith were appointed brigadier generals of the militia. Then on 10 April, Congress, meeting in Philadelphia, directed that a camp be established on the west side of the Delaware to which the militia could be sent, and recommended that not less than 3000 men be called into service. On the 13th, General James Potter was called to Philadelphia, as General Cadwalader was not in town and General Mer0dith was unwell, "General Armstrong alone being on the Spot to act at this important juncture." " Twelve days later on 25 April, Council called to active duty the lit Class men of Bucks, Berks, Northampton, Philadelphia and Cumberland , Counties, directing them to rendezvous at Bristol in Bucks County. In addition, the 1st Class men of Chester, Lancaster and York Counties were called into service, and directed to rendezvous at a camp to be established near Chester. If the 1st Class men in each county did not turn out to the amount of 500, the 2nd Class men were to be called up in sufficient numbers to equal that total." On 6 May, the first commissions to battalion field officers were issued. Some of these were sent to Bucks County where about 3000 men had been organized into five battalions by 26 April. By 18 May, about one half of the county's quota of men had been sent to the camp near Bristol, "all furnished with Blankits but are yet deficient in arms." , . , Minutes of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania . . . , (Philadelphia, 1852), XI, 198199, hereinafter cited as Colonial Records. 1st $eries, V, 297, 304, 305. For a comprehensive account of the Continental Army in Pennsylvania, the reader is referred to Douglaa Southall Freeman's George IVashingtont A Biography (New York, 1911), IV, in which, however, there me only minor references to militia operation. 08 108 Series, V, 321. As printed here, the order was addressed to Northumberland Co., in addition to the others, and not to Northampton Co., as plainly noted in the body of the order. As Will be noticed in the text, rarely did an active-duty battalion number more than 200 men, instead of the 500 expected. The Pennsylvania Militia in 1777 169 Field Officers, Bucks County Battalions 14 Commissioned 6 May 1777 First Battalion: Col. Hugh Tomb; Lt. Col. James McMasters; Major John Folwell Second Battalion: Col. Arthur Erwine; Lt. Col. Robert Robinson; Major William Hart Third Battalion: Col. John Keller; Lt. Col. Joseph Severs: Major Thomas Long Fourth Battalion: Col. William Roberts; Lt. Col. John Lacey; Major John Coryell Fifth Battalion: Col. Joseph McIlvaine; Lt. Col. John Jarvis Philadelphia County had been divided into seven battalion districts and elections had been held for officers by 22 April. Their commissions Were also dated 6 May: Field Officers, Philadelphia County Battalions n Commissioned 6 May 1777 First Battalion: Col. Daniel Hiester, Jr.; Lt. Col. Jacob Reed; Major Jacob Markley Second Battalion: Col. John Moore; Lt. Col. Aaron Levering; Major George Miller Third Battalion: Col. Benjamin McVeagh; Lt. Col. David Schneider; Major John Holmes Fourth Battalion: Col. William Dean; Lt. Col. Robert Loner; Major George Right Fifth Battalion: Col. Robert Curry; Lt. Col. Archibald Thompson; Major John Edwards Sixth Battalion: Col. Frederick Antes; Lt. Col. Frederick Weiss; Major Jacob Bishop Seventh Battahon: Col. Jonathan Paschall; Lt. Col. Isaac Warner; Major Matthew Jones Chester County, where the number of men capable of bearing arms had been returned as "upwards of Five thousand," was divided into eight battalion districts by 28 April, and the field officers elected, but their rank was not determined until early in May, and most of the commissions were not issued until the middle of the month: Field Officers, Chester County Battalions Commissioned 17 May 1777 First Battalion: Col. John Hannum; Lt. Col. Isaac Taylor; Major John [Peter?] Bell Second Battalion: C,ol. Evan Evans; Lt. Col. John McDowell; Major David Mackey (all commissioned 7 May 1777) Third Battalion: Col. Caleb Davis; Lt. Col. Benjamin Brannon; Major Sketchley Morton 14 For these Bucks Co. field officers, and the company captains in the various battalions ha 1777, see 556 Series, V. 314-318; 333-336; 350-316; 363-366; 388-391; she 2rid Series, XIV, 177-191. For the report that half the quota had been sent to Bristol, are lot Series, V. 342. 15 For Philadelphia Co. field officers, see 2sid Series, XIII, 388-390, mistakenly headed "Philadelphia County Associators." This reference is preferred to the confused listings in 655 leiet, I, for Philadelphia Co., wherein city militia lists are intermingled with county lists without distinction. Jonathan Paschall ores replaced as colonel of the Seventh Battalion by Isaac Warner, his lieutenant colonel. Cf. 636 Series, I, 919-920. 18 For Chester Co. field officers in 1777, see 2nd Series, XIV, 70, 83, 84-86, 118, 90, 91; also fib 005es, V, 4 , 3, 469-470; 510-114; 331-532; 592-593; 693-696; 698 - 700; 772-773; 801 - 502, Per the report on the number of men capable for service, see hi Sesies, V. 324. 170 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine Fourth Battalion: Col. William Evans; Lt. Col. John Ralston; Major Peter Hartman Fifth Battalion: Cot Richard Thomas; Lt. Col. John Bartholomew; Major Cromwell Pierce Sixth Battalion: Col. Thomas Taylor; Lt. Col. Nichol Fairlamb; Major George Pearce Seventh Battalion: Col. William Gibbons; Lt. Col. Nathaniel Porter; Major John Culbertson Eighth Battalion: Col. Patterson Bell; Lt. Col. Matthew Boyd; Major Joseph Spear (all commissioned 6 September 1777) Berks County was divided into six battalion districts, with a total of about 4000 able-bodied men, by 26 April. Election of officers was held the first week in May, but out of the six battalions, eighteen "subdivisions" had failed to choose officers, so the County Lieutenants appointed them: Field Officers, Barks County Battalions" Commissions dated 17 May 1777 First Battalion: Col. Daniel Hunter; Lt. Col. John Guldirt; Major John Cunnius Second Battalion: Col. Daniel Udree; Lt. Col. Jacob Boyer; Major John Huy Third Battalion: Col. Michael Lindemuth; Lt. Cot George May; Major Martin Kergher Fourth Battalion: Cot Nicholas Lutz; Lt. Col. Joseph 'Eater; Major Peter Decker Fifth Battalion: Col. Jacob Weaver; Lt. Col. Matthias Rhoads; Major George Lorah Sixth Battalion: Col. Henry Spycker; Lt. Col. George Miller; Major Michael Furry In Northampton County, six battalion districts were organized and the rank of the officers settled by 21 May, but no commissions were issued until 18 June, and then they were predated: Field Officers, Northampton County Battalions" Commissions dated 21 May 1777 First Battalion: Col. George Hubner; Lt. Col. Peter Sayler; Major Philip Mixel Second Battalion: Cot George Sreinig; Lt. Col. Stephen Balliet; Major Frederick Limbach Third Battalion: Col. Michael Bobst; Lt. Col. Michael Teibert; Major Philip Beninghoff Fourth Battalion: Col. John Siegfried; Lt. Col. Nicholas Kern; Major James Boyd Fifth Battalion: Col. Abraham Labor; Lt. Col. Isaac Sidman; Major Robert Trail Sixth Battalion: Gat Jacob Stroud; Lt. Col. Abraham Miller; Major John Gaston From York County a report was sent on 1 May that the county was still being divided into districts; the County Lieutenant, Richard McFo, Berk. Co. field officers in 1777, see Sod Series, XIV, 257-276; also 1th Series, V. 160-164; 173-179; 189-193; 201-205; 213-2171 225-230. The commissions for these officers, though dated 17 May, were not sent to the County Laeutenant until 14 June 1777. Ibid., 230. For the reports on the organization progress, see 1st Series, V. 322, 341. 55 Foe Northamp1,-6 Co. officers in 1777, see 351 Series, VIII, 28-30; 102-103; 225-226; 303-304; 369-370; 425-426. The Pennsylvania Militia in 1777 171 Calester, was at a loss to know "How the Quota [of men] will be raised before the law is got in force." Cumberland County was equally slow in organizing; the County Lieutenant appointed, because of "his advan'd age & Infirmities of body," could not serve, though he had instructed his sub-lieutenants to meet to divide the county into districts. Lancaster County on 19 May reported that only six out of nine battalions had been formed; the three not yet organized were "in the heart of the Mininists Settlements . • . who pamper with the Constables & prevent them of making their Returns." Two weeks later the names of men in eight townships out of thirty-three in the county "yet remained Unreturned." " Of the 3000 men requisitioned by Congress, by 20 May four companies of 1st Class men from Philadelphia County under Colonel Daniel Wester, had marched to the camp near Bristol, and the rest were expected to arrive there by the end of that week. These, as well as the 1st Class men from Bucks County under Colonel Hugh Tomb, were at first posted at Coryell's Ferry (Lambertville), and at the fords along the Delaware above and below the ferry. Fortunately General Howe's movements during the month of May were so erratic that they did not further alarm the Pennsylvania authorities, and vital time was gained in which to complete the organization of the militia. Then early in June the situation changed. Howe again seemed to be directing his forces toward Pennsylvania, and the militia posted along the Delaware above Bristol were sent forward to reinforce Washington's troops in New Jersey. Before the middle of June, the 1st Class men of Philadelphia County, posted at Coryell's Ferry, had been sent forward, leaving that place entirely vacant. To replace them, more militia were needed, and letters were sent out 13 June to the County Lieutenants, urging them to send forward immediately the rest of the 1st Class men already called up, and to get the 2nd Class in readiness." Three days later on 16 June, Council called into service 2nd Class men from Berks, Bucks, Cumberland, Chester, Lancaster, Northampton, Philadelphia and York Counties. These were to go "to the places to which the 1st Class of the said Counties respectively are ordered," i.e., to 10 Por reports from York and Cumberland Co,., see la Senies, V, 330, 334, 335; for Lancaster Co., 343, 353. 20 No returns or muster rolls have been found for the service of 1st Class men from Philadelphia and Bucks Co. in tile spring of 1777. The notice that mme of these men were posted at Bristol was published in the Philadelphia Evening Post, 20 May 1777. For Ist Class substitutes hired to serve under Hiss,,- s« 615 Series, 1, 606-612, 921; also Sri Series, V, 705, for payment to Capt. [John] Hamilton, of 1st Co., Fifth Battalion, for ho company's pay. For the Bucks Co. men at CoryelPs Ferry and orders of 33 June, see lot Series, V, 365, 367-569; Colonial Records, XI, 222, 225. 172 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine Bristol and Chester, and 3rd Class men were warned to get ready for possible call-up. In addition, the 1st and 2nd Classes of Philadelphia city militia and the 1st Class of Northumberland County were ordered to march to Bristol." The organization of militia in the city was still not entirely settled, however. By 18 April the nine wards in the city proper—between Vine and South or Cedar Street—had been divided into only four battalion districts. To increase this number, an agreement had been reached by the end of that month between the City and County Lieutenants to transfer from the county jurisdiction those portions of the county immediately adjacent to the city on the north and on the south, to the military jurisdiction of the City Lieutenant. The population of these two areas would thus give the city enough men to form six battalions. But as this arrangement was contrary to the provisions of the militia act, it had to be legalized by the Assembly before commissions could be issued. Apparently, up to 22 April, battalion officers had been elected in only four battalions: Field Officers, Philadelphia City Battalions. Col. William Bradford; Lt. Col. John Keppele; Major James Read First Battalion: Second Battalion: Col. John Bayard; Lt. Col. John Cox; Major John Boyd Third Battalion: Col. Jacob Morgan; Lt. Col. William Will; Major Joseph Kerr Fourth Battalion: Col. John Bayard [sic]; Lt. Col. Jonathan B. Smith; Major Alexander Boyd Fortunately Howe, instead of continuing to advance westward, again retraced his steps. Council on 19 June therefore cancelled the marching orders for the 2nd Classes of Berks, Lancaster and Northampton Counties, and directed Cumberland, York and Northumberland Counties to send no 1st Class men at all, but to hold them in readiness. This last order did not reach Northumberland County until 29 June, the letter as The order for calling up 2nd Clam men is entered on the Council minutes under the datc of:: June 1777, but apparently the notices were not sem out until the following day. Colonial Records, XI, 224; 1st Series, V. 370. 28 See Pennsylvania Packet, 22 April 1777, for announcement the city had been divided into four battalion districts: Mulberry Ward formed one; Upper and Lower Delaware, High Street and North Wards, formed a second; Chestnut, Walnut, Middle and South Wards a third; Dock Ward the fourth. For the final arrangement, or Pennsylvania Gazette, 30 April 177, in which it was announced all the Northern Liberties would form one district under coy jurisdiction; Southwark, Moyamensing and Passayunk another, and that Oxford Township, formerly joined with the wmtern division of the Northern Liberties as a district under coumy jurisdiction, would be joined to the county battalion district which included Cheltenham, Abington, L. Moreland, L. Dublin and Byberry. None of the battalion officers had as yet been commissioned, and not all of them went on active duty, being otherwise engaged in State business. Consequently when their battalions were called into service, their places were supplied by new officers who were then commissioned, and the rotation of service as provided in the militSa act was kopee,dee. sce fob se9ies, 1, 79, 105, 185, 267, for these first battalion officers. The Pennsylvania Militia in 1777 173 "being delayed on the road." By that time three companies had already started their march to Bristol. Four battalions appear to have been organized in this remote and sparsely settled county, but returns for 1777 are missing, and those made in the spring of 1778 list only the colonels and company officers: Field Officers, Northumberland County Battalions. , First Battalion: Colonel John Kelly Second Battalion: Colonel James Murray Third Battalion: Colonel Peter Hosterman Fourth Battalion: Colonel Cookson Long Of the three companies which marched from Northumberland County, one marched sixty miles, the other two thirty miles, before they were called back. These lot Class men were under the command of Captain John Foster of the lot Company, First Battalion, of Captain Thomas Gaskins of the 1st Company, Second Battalion, and of Captain Thomas Wilson of the lit Company, Fourth Battalion.. By 25 June, while these Northumberland County men were still on the march, no further alarming news had reached Philadelphia. Council therefore cancelled the previous orders to Berks, Lancaster and Northampton Counties to send down 1st and 2nd Class men, instructing the County Lieutenants instead to hold the men in readiness for possible future call-up. Philadelphia and Chester Counties were also told to send down only the 1st Class men which had not yet marched.' Meanwhile, in Chester County one company of 1st Class men, under Captain William Price of the Third Battalion, had entered into service 13 June. Five days later on 18 June three additional companies, under Captain John Ramsey of the Second Battalion, Captain David Cowpland of the Sixth, and Captain Gilbert Gibbs of the Eighth Battalion, had entered into service. On the 21st, Captain William Scott's company of the Seventh Battalion, and on the 23rd the company of Captain Mordecai Morgan of the Fifth Battalion, entered upon service. The reFor orders to, and reports from Northumberland Co., see lit Series, V. 380, 414. For the battalion geld officers in 1778, see Sth Seriet, vol. 637, 647-648, 654, 663. .3 For payment to Foster on 28 July 1777, and to WiImn for service between September and November, see 3rd Series, VII, 6. Presurnably Poster's pay was for the same six days' service for which Col, Kelly and Lt. Col. H. White of the First and Second Battalions, respectively, received nominal sums its the same account. Rods Foster's and Gaskins' companies shortly after their return home were again See also the pension application called out and sent to the fromiers as protection against the Indians. of John Wilson, in Gaskins' company, Revolutionary Pension Applications, W. F. Wagner Collection, Collections of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, hereinafter cited as Pension Applications. Thu collection should be wed with caution. The applications were made in 1832, when the veterans were advanced in years, and often huy in their recollection of semi.. Fmthermore, parenthetical comments by Dr. Wagner, included in the transcripts of the application papers, are not always correct. 25 1,t Series, V, 404- 174 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine mainmg companies of 1st Class men from the county, under Edward Simonson of the First Battalion, and under John Hiester of the Fourth, entered into service 24 and 28 June. The end of the first week in July these men were at Chester under the command of the colonel of the First Battalion. Their number totaled only about 320 rank and file, however, of which 200 were substitutes. Unless more substitutes could be hired, the full strength of the battalion—about 700 men—could not be reached. Company Captains, 1st Class Chester County 2 ' Commanded by Colonel John Hannum Mustered at Chester, 11 July 1777 Edward Simonson, corn. 24 June 1777 John Ramsey, corn. 18 June 1777 William Price, corn. 4 May 1777 John Mester, corn. 28 June 1777 Mordecai Morgan, corn. 23 June 1777 David Cowpland, corn. 18 June 1777 William Scott, corn. 21 June 1777 Gilbert Gibbs, corn. 18 June 1777 [of 1st Co., First Battalion] [of lot Co., Second Battalion] [of Set Co., Third Battalion] [of let Co., Fourth Battalion] [of 1st Co., Fifth Battalion] [of lot Co., Sixth Battalion] [of 1s5 Co., Seventh Battalion] [of 1st Co., Eighth Battalion] The day before the companies of these officers had mustered, over at Billingsport, across the Delaware from Chester on the New Jersey side of the river, two battalions of city militia of the 1st and 2nd Classes were working on strengthening the fortifications at that place: Maim"' Mustered at Billingsport, 10 July 1777 RETURN OP PENNSYLVANIA Col. William Bradford Col. Sharp Delany lot Class City 275 Fit 321 Total 6 capts., 11 Its., 4 sick 2nd Class City 275 Fit 320 Total 5 capes., 12 It,., 6 sick, 5 on command 154 Substs. 149 Substs. Colonel Bradford, commissioned 23 June 1777, to the First City Battalion, was issued a new commission 12 July as commanding officer of the 1st Class men in service. His subordinate officers, Lieutenant Colonel 26 For the individual muster rolls of the active-duty companies, see 3th Series, V. 415-468. New commissions seem to have been issued to many of those officers, commissioned mrlier, when they went on 2CtiVC duty. For the captains' permanent billets, see ibid., 411, 516, 552, 591, 692, 699, 772, 801. For the report from the County Lieutenant, Robert Smith, on the need for more substitutes, see lei Series, V, 426. Capt. Gibbs company apparently was transferred to Billingsport after the muster of 11 July, for which eee the pension application of Gideon Smith, Centre Co., Pension Applications, cited in Note 24 above. Smith claimed that when he went from "Old Chester" to Billingsport, three battalions were at work there, two from Philadelphia and one from Bucks Co. 27 1n the tett of this article, items referring to staff and non-commissioned officers, the sick absent from camp, and number on furlough, entered on the returns, have been omitted, the emphasis being placed on statistics relating to the effective rank and Me For this return, see let Series, V. 423, which has two conflicting dates: 18 June and 10 July 1777- The latter date is presumed to be correct, inasmuch as the city militia was not called out until ld June, and could hardly have mustered at Billingsport within two days. The Pennsylvania Militia in 1777 175 Paul Cox and Major Joseph Kerr—the latter turning out according to regulations—received commissions the same day. Company Captains, sat Class Philadelphia City" Commanded by Colonel William Bradford Mustered at BIllingsport, 12 July 1777 Ezekiel Letts, corn. 25 June 1777 [of let Co., First Battalion] Robert Duncan, corn. 25 June 1777 [of 1st Co., Second Battalion] [of 1st Co., Third Battalion] George Easterly, cum. 25 June 1777 Isaac Austin [no date of commission; of 1st Co., Fourth Battalion] George Forepaugh, com. 31 May 1777 [of 1st Co., Fifth Battalion] John Smith, corn. 25 June 1777 [of 1st Co., Sixth Battalion] Colonel Sharp Delany, in command of the city's 2nd Class men, Lieutenant Colonel William Will from the Third Battalion, and Major Alexander Boyd from the Fourth Battalion, all received commissions dated 12 July 1777. Will, who had been in command of a company of Assnciators the year before, apparently volunteered to serve with the 2nd Class ahead of his regular tour. Company Captains, 2nd Class Philadelphia City" Commanded by Colonel Sharp Delany Charles Syng, Corn. 25 June 1777 [of 2nd Co., First Battalion] John Downey [no date of commission; of 2nd Co., Second Battalion] Peter Mehrling, corn. 25 June 1777 [of 2nd Co., Third Battalion] Lazarus Pine [no date of commission; of 2nd Co., Fourth Battalion] Christian Piercy [corn. let Lt. 25 June 1777 in 2nd Co., Fifth Battalion] Jacob Sink, corn. 25 June 1777 [of 2nd Co., Sixth Battalion] The two-month period of active duty of those 1st Class men who had turned out most promptly when called up in the spring, was now nearing its end. Among these were five companies of Bucks County militia: STATION OF 1ST CLASS, BUCKS COUNTY 8. Commanded by Colonel Hugh Tomb At Bristol, 31 July 1777 Capt. William McConkey Capt. Nicholas Patterson [of let Co., First Battalion] [of 1st Co., Second Battalion] 2 8 For the muster rolls of these active-duty companies, see 50 men 36 men 6th Series, I, 21-34. For the perroenent billets of the captains, see the reference cited in Note 4 above. 20 For muster rolls of the city's 2nd Class men, see 6tb Series, I, 107-120. For the captains' permanent billets, ibid., 37, 123, 190, 282, 541 (Capt. George Nit,', Co.), 406. See also pension application of Henry Stimer, Mifflin Co., who served in Capt. Syng's company, Pension Applications, ened in Note 24 above. 80 For this return, see 550 Stria, V. 318. Poe the captains' permanent billets, ibid.. III, 333, 351, 364, 388. Capt. McConkey's pay roll was not made out until 21 September 1777, possibly because he had a large number of substitutes who had entered late; see 3rd Series, VI, 5. 176 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine Capt. Jacob Shoup Capt. William Pugh Capt. John Thompson [of 2nd Co., Thud Battalion] [of 1st Co., Fourth Battalion] [of 1st Co., Fifth Battalion] Rank and fde 30 men 56 men 47 men 219 The termination of the service of the Bucks County 1st Class coincided roughly with the embarkation from New York of the British army and the subsequent appearance of the British transports off the Delaware Capes. On receipt of the news of these movements of the enemy, Washington's army in New Jersey turned westward, and the Council in Philadelphia was alerted to the possibility of the enemy's fleet sailing up the Delaware. Inasmuch as more 1st Class men would be going home in a few days, a call for additional militia was necessary. On 28 July new orders were sent to the County Lieutenants. One class of city militia (the 3rd) was called out, two classes from Philadelphia County (the 2nd and 3rd), one class from Bucks County (the 3rd), one from Berks County (the 1st), one from Chester (the 2nd), and one each from Cumberland, Lancaster, Northampton and York (the 1st Class)." Before any of these men had arrived at camp, some forty 2nd Class substitutes from Bucks County at Billingsport, apparently hired to fill the quota of the 1st Class, were paid off on 7 August. A week later four companies were still on duty there: STATION OF 2ND CLASS, BUCKS COUNTY Commanded by Lieutenant Colonel James McMasters At Billingsport, 13 August 1777 [of 2nd Co., First Battalion] 31 men [of 3rd Co., Third Battalion] 109 men [of 2nd Co., Fourth Battalion] 41 men [of 2nd Co., Fifth Battalion] 49 men Rank and file 232 Of these, a few men in Captain Thomas' company had entered on 29 June, the rest on 8 July. They therefore had about two more weeks of duty. Captain Ramsey's men were not paid off until 10 September." Capt. Robert Ramsey Capt. David Mellenger Capt. John Thomas Capt. John Wood Seven companies of 2nd Class men from Philadelphia County, under Colonel John Moore of the Second Battalion, were nearly ready to march to Billingsport. As yet no commissions had been sent to the officers, however, and without them the men refused to march. +1 . Colonial Records, XI, 254. Orders for Bolts Co. were not included in the Council's minute, but were undoubtedly sent at the same time. See 1st Series, V. 466. 1,or the captains' permanent 82 For the return, see sib Series, V. 119; for substitutes, 403-404. billets, see ibid., 315 (Ramsey), 351 (Mellinger) , 359 (Wood); for Thomas in the Pours), Battalion, fed Series, V, 767, 7611. His men were paid 15 Aug. 1777. McMaster, was from the First Battalion, =cording to regulations. .. 1s1 Strict, V, 5115 led Series, VI, s; ibid.. V. 767. The Pennsylvania Militia in 1777 177 RETURN OF 2ND CLASS, PHILADELPHIA COUNTY" Commanded by Colonel John Moore 16 August 1777 14 Fit [Capt. John] Cope on Furlough [of 2nd Co., First Battalion] 44 Fit Capt. Matthias Gensell 47 Total [of 2nd Co., Second Battalion] Capt. Benjamin Dungan 28 Fit 34 Total [of 2nd Co., Third Battalion] 1 Deserter Capt. Christian Dull 37 Fit 50 Total [of 1st Co., Fourth Battalion] 1 sick, 4 on command Capt. John Rhiner 30 Fit 36 Total [of 2nd Co., Fifth Battalion] I sick, 3 on command Capt. Benjamin Brookes 54 Fit 67 Total [of 2nd Co., Sixth Battalion] I sick, 4 on command Capt. Israel Jones 19 Fit 24 Total [of 2nd Co., Seventh Battalion] 2 on command Lt. Davis on Furlough; Lts. Justice and Young sick at home 17 Substs. 19 Substs. 19 Substs. 1 Deserter No complete totals for the strength of this battalion were included in the return, probably because Cope's company and several others were far under strength. At the moment the number of men fit for duty—armed and accoutral—amounted to 226. On the day the above return was made, John Evans, a member of the Council, had gone to Chester to see for himself the conditions there. He reported to Vice President George Byran that there were now at Chester about a thousand of the militia from the different counties: "from Berks County part of two classes; of company's, from Cumberland one Company, from Lancaster part of two companies, none yet from York, or Northampton; the Chester County Clam about half compleated. . . ." " Of these, the Berks County militia of the lit Class, called out on 28 July, had been mustered 5 August, and then marched south at the end of that week: RETURN OF 1ST CLASS, BERES COUNTT 86 Commanded by Colonel Daniel Hunter At Chester, 20 August 1777 Lt. Henry Knouse [of 2nd Co., First Battalion] 32 Fit 33 Total [10 Substs.] 00 This return is found in the Society Miscellaneous Collection, Box 15-0, Historical Society of Pennsylvania (MP). For the report on the militia by Col. 'William Coats, the County Lieutenant, see 1s5 Snore, V, 528. The captains' permanent billets are deduced from several sources: for Capt. Cope, 3rd Series, V, 579; Capt. Gensell, ibid.. 603; Capt. Dungan, ibid., 3131; Capt. Dull, 6th Series, 1, 750; Capt. Rhiner (Reyner), 3rd Series, V, 710; Caps. B. Brookes, ibid., 710; Capt. Joan, 650 Seriet, I, 920. SS 1st Series, V, 329. Se See sib Soto, V, 134, for the 20 August return, on which totals vary somewhat Mtn the eulier return of 5 August given in ibid., 127, and from which the number of substitutes, bracketed in the text here, is taken. For captains' permanent billets, see ibid., 161, 176 190, 252, 214, 226. 178 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine Capt. Charles Krause [of 1st Co., Second Battalion] Capt. Jacob 'Whetstone [of 1st Co., Third Battalion] Capt. Conrad Geist [of 1st Co., Fourth Battalion] Capt. [James McMurry] [of 1st Co., Fifth Battalion] Capt. John Lesher [of 1st Co., Sixth Battalion] 39 Fit 39 Total [ 4 Substs.] 49 Total 1 sick, I deserter Fit 73 Total [13 Substs.] 57 Total 119 Substs.] 36 Fit 38 Total 2 on command [ 6 Subats. 47 Fit 73 55 Fit [39 Substs.] 2 sick Of the 282 men on the above return fit for duty in Hunter's battalion, at least a third were substitutes, and since the quota of men required from the county (about 500) had not been reached, men from the 2nd Class were also embodied. These were mustered 11 August and had marched to camp the same week: RETURN OF 2ND CLASS, BEERS COUNTY .7 Commanded by Colonel Daniel Udree At Chester, 20 August 1777 Capt. Stephen Crumrine [of 2nd Co., First Battalion] Capt. Peter Smith [of 2nd Co., Second Battalion] Capt. Conrad Minich [of 2nd Co., Third Battalion] Capt. John Ritemyer [of 2nd Co., Fourth Battalion] Capt. [Lt.] John Essington [unidentified: Fifth Battalion?] Capt. George Batdorf [of 2nd Co., Sixth Battalion] 38 Fit 1 sick 39 Fit 41 Total [16 Substs.] 39 Total [ 2 Substs.] 39 Fit 42 Total [ 4 Substs.] 54 Fit 54 Total [20 Substs.] 27 Fit 28 Total [13 Substs.] 33 Fit 33 Total 2 deserters [ 8 Substs.] By the end of July Cumberland County had been organized into eight battalions in spite of the lack of a County Lieutenant to supervise matters, though not all officers had received commissions: ST Ibid., 125, 135. For most of the captains' permanent billets, see ibid., 161, 176, 190, 202, 227. Essington', permanent billet is not definitely known. When the company mustered he was listed as a lieutenant Sc 11 August, but had been promoted to captain by the time they had arrived at Chester. was the came incorrectly transcribed for Jacob Kissinger, 2nd Lt. of 3rd Co., Fourth Battalion, as shown in ibid., 203? On 15 August, Council had sent orders to Berke and Northampton Cos. to send 5 5 5 men from each county's and Class to "Pecks kiln" to reinforce General Gates. The order did 110C urive at Reading until 17 August, by which time the Serbs militia had all marched south. See lit Series, V. 523-524, 530. The Pennsylvania Militia in 1777 179 Field Officers, Cumberland County Battalions 88 Commissions dated 31 July 1777 First Battalion: CoL James Dunlap; Lt. Col. Robert Culbertson; Major James Carnahan Second Battalion: Col. John Davis; Lt. Col. William Clark; Major John Brooks Third Battalion: Col. William Chambers; Le. Col. David Bell; Major Samuel Irwin Fourth Battalion: Col. Samuel Lyon; Lt. Col. Thomas Turbot; Major Robert Taylor Fifth Battalion: Col. Arthur Buchannan; Lt. Col. Alexander Brown; Major Alexander McIllhatten Sixth Battalion: Col. Samuel Culbertson; Lt. Col. John Work; Major James McCamon Seventh Battalion: Col. Frederick Watts; Lt. Col. Samuel Ross; Major David Mitchell Eighth Battalion: Col. Abraham Smith; Lt. Col. James Johnston; Major John Johnston The company of Cumberland's lot Class men, called up 28 July, under Captain Matthew Gregg of the Second Battalion, was ready to march on 8 August. Captain Gregg brought down the return of the officers of Cumberland County's Fifth Battalion "in order for having their commissions sent them." Presumably it was his company which John Evans found at Chester on 16 August. coiiipaiiy Captains, Sat Class Cumberland County.° Commanded by Colonel James Dunlap Commissions dated 31 July 1777 Thomas Askey [of lot Co., First Battalion] Matthew Gregg [of 1st Co., Second Battalion] John McTeer [of 1st Co., Third Battalion] John Williams [of 1st Co., Fourth Battalion] Alexander McCoy [of 1st Co., Fifth Battalion] George Crawford [of 1st Co., Sixth Battalion] James Fisher [of 1st Co., Seventh Battalion] Samuel Royer [of 1st Co., Eighth Battalion] No record has been found identifying the "part of two companies" from Lancaster County which John Evans found at Chester on 16 Au38 For the permanent billets of Curoberlmd Co. battalion and company officers, mistakenly headed "Associators," see 511' Series, VI, 10-14, 153-156, 201-204, 239-242, 319-322, 367-370, 451454, 510-514. The Cumberland Co. published records furnish the most complete example of the actual rotation of officers, both field and company, when called to active duty. For the active-duty billets of the battalion field officers, see 2nd Series, XV, 563, 568, 574, 579, 584-585, 590, 595. 39 For the mtive-duty rolls of the companies under these officers, which formed the 1st Class activoduty battalion, see ibid., 563-568, preferred as a reference to the rolls in fib Series, VI, which are scattered through that volume, and are difficult to identify. For the permanent billets of the company captains, see reference in Note 38 above. For notice of Gregg's marching date, see 1s5 Series, V, 500. For a return of Capt. Askey's company, dated 23 October 1777, possibly just before discharge, see 51b Series, VI, 23. Pay for Capt. Williams' company started 9 August, for which see 3rd Series, VI, 662. Capt. McCoy's company marched from Carlisle to Lancaster, and from there to Marcus Hook, where they were among thou who "shrew up works there," as stated in the pension application of James McDowell, Mifflin, Co., for which see Pension Applications, cited in Note 24 above. The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine 180 gust, although according to the County Lieutenant, Bartrem Galbraith, "three-eighths" of the battalions so far formed had been sent forward to Chester by 14 August. These were supposed to number nearly 1000 men, but they had "neither arms, accoutriments, Camp-kitties &c., except blankets, which they had Perticular orders to procure." Since Galbraith had sent down men from the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Classes, arranged in three companies according to class, which were drawn from the five battalions so far organized, possibly Captain John Rutherford's company of 3rd Class men from the Fourth Battalion, "at Middletown [Paxtang Township] August 12, 1777, on its march to Philadelphia," was one of the companies en route to camp." Although Evans did not mention them, Chester County's 1st Class militia were still at Chester in mid-August, half of which would serve till the end of the month, having entered late. Identification of the "half compleated" 2nd Class companies, called up 28 July, which Evans did mention as being at Chester on 16 August, remains unknown. Of this class, under the command of Colonel Evan Evans of the Second Battalion, the only record located is that of the company of Captain Jacob Rudolph of the 2nd Company, Third Battalion, which had entered into service 2 August.' Before many more militia arrived at Chester, the city learned that the British, instead of sailing up the Delaware, had continued down the coast and entered Chesapeake Bay. Their arrival there seemed to imply that having failed to penetrate Pennsylvania from the east, an attempt would now be made to enter the State by the back door, so to speak. Lancaster, the chief inland town and less than fifty miles from the head of Chesapeake Bay, seemed to be Howe's new objective. Washington, on his way west with the Continental Army, stopped in Philadelphia to confer with the authorities. It was decided a "Corps" should be established in Lancaster County in case the borough was Howe's objective. On 23 August, orders were sent to Northampton County to send its 1st and 2nd Classes to Lancaster; the 3rd Class of Philadelphia was ordered to march to Downingtown, and "three-eighths" of the city artillery was to be embodied immediately. These, "with suitable Cannon," were to be sent forward, one half to Chester, the other half to Downingtown. Any county militia then in Lancaster en route to Chester was to be halted at Lancaster until further orders." V. 321-122. For Rudserford'e company, sm Ind Series, XIII, 362-363. For Rudolph's company of Chester Co. minds, see sob Serks, V. 114. 343, 544; Colonial Records, XI, 273. 4 0 1s4 Series, 42 10 Skies, V, 181 The Pennsylvania Militia in 1777 Meanwhile the Bucks County 3rd Class had entered into service and been sent to Billingsport where they replaced those of the 2nd Class whose time had expired earlier in the month. The turnout of 3rd Class men had been disappointing; on 24 August, Joseph Kirkbride, the County Lieutenant, reported that the class consisted of only 130 privates, the greatest part of whom were substitutes, and "near one month of their time" was already over. Two days later a return showed an increase of about forty men: STATION OF 3RD CLASS, BUCKS COUNTY" Commanded by Major John Folwell At Billingsport, 26 August 1777 Capt. Abraham Dubois Lt. John Reith Capt. Robert Thorn Capt. Jacob Burk Capt. John Harrison [of 3rd Co., First Battalion] [of 4th Co., First Battalion] [of 3rd Co., Second Battalion] [of 4th Co., Third Battalion] [of 3rd Co., Fifth Battalion] Rank and file 31 men 25 men 79 men 30 men 27 men 192 The city artillery ordered out on 23 August had been provided for by the act of Assembly which had been passed 19 June 1777" to clarify various sections of the March militia law. This new law which had legalized the rearrangement of the city battalion districts, also provided for the establishment of exercise days in cases where the militia had not been organized in time to drill at the originally designated dates, and provided that no fines should be levied if the men met on the new dates. Substitutes away from home on active duty were not to be fined for not appearing on exercise days. The law also added to the list of exemptions from militia duty post riders, postmasters or those engaged in the necessary business of the post office. An artillery battalion of six companies of fifty privates, to be drawn from the several battalions in the city, was also to be established. Each company was to serve in numerical order chosen by lot as in the infantry battalions: the first company to come out when the 1st Class was called out, the second company with the 2nd Class, and so on in rotation. When additional classes had been called out on 28 July, three-eighths of this artillery battalion had also been called up, but since only one company, that of Captain John McCullough, was fully organized, the order had not been implemented. The 48For Eirkbride's report, no 1s2 Series, V, 149; for the return, Tib Sissies, V. 319. For the captains' permanent billets no ibid., 315, 316, 334, 189, wherein Morrison is shown as 2nd Lt. of 3rd Co., Fifth Battalion; 312. For some 3rd Clan subnitutes, me ibid., 401. 41.A Supplement to the Act, Entided 'An Act to Pennsylvania,.. Chapter DCCLX, Statutes, IX, 155134. regulate the Militia of the Commonwealth of 182 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine new orders of 23 August also presented difficulties, inasmuch as it was not feasible to divide six companies, as set up in the June law, into threeeighths parts. RETURN OP COMPANY CAPTAINS, PHILADELPHIA ARTILLERY " Commanded by Colonel Jehu Eyre 25 August 1777 1st Company: Capt. Samuel Massey [corn. 27 August 17771 2nd Company: Capt. John McCulloch, Corn. 12 July 1777 3rd Company: Capt. Peter Browne [corn. 11 September 1777] 4th Company: Capt. William Prowell, cora. 6 September 1777 Stla Company: Capt. Andrew Summers, corn. 6 September 1777 6th Company: Capt. John Ruper, corn. 27 August 1777 The day after the above return was made, Colonel Eyre and Captain Browne laid before the Council the "inconveniences which will arise from ordering out three-eighths of the artillery battalion," proposing instead that two companies which were now complete should enter into service. As a result, on 27 August the lot and 2nd Companies were ordered to proceed to Chester and to place themselves under the command of General Armstrong. On the same day Colonel Evans of Chester County and his militia—presumably 2nd Class men—were ordered to march to "Christeen Bridge" and there take post till further orders from Washington." Word had arrived that the British had landed in Maryland. At Chester, where Armstrong was inspecting the militia while Washington's army advanced toward Wilmington, six companies of Northampton County 1st Class men had now arrived: RETURN OF 1ST CLASS, NORTHAMPTON COUNTY At Commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Balliet At Chester, 28 August 1777 Capt. Jacob Waggoner [of 8th Co., First Battalion] Capt. Joseph Kooken [of 1st Co., Second Battalion] 34 Fit 38 Total 5 on command 22 Fit 30 Total 11 Deserters 81 For the return, see 61b Series, I, 518419; also 2od Serks, XIII, 594-595, 642, 650. 46 Colonial Records, XI, 278. For an extended but somewhat inaccurate account of Col. Eyre and (1879), 418 et see. his artilliery battalion, see Peter D. Keyser, "Memorials of John Eyre," PMHB, 1 For the order to march to "Christeen Bridge," see "Orderly Book of Gen. John Peter Gabriel Muldenberg," ibid., ICIOCIV (1910), 449. 87 These men had been called out 28 July, as noted above; whedur any of them went to Lancaster, pursuant to the order of 23 August, remains unknown. For the return, see 501. Serks, VIII, 543-544. For the captains' permanent billets, see ibid., 30, 104, wherein Kooken is shown as captain in 1778 of the 1st Co., but 'William Sheffer had been captain originally (p. 101); 225, wherein Haller's 42MC 4 Steller; 304 369. 425. The Pennsylvania Militia in 1777 Capt. Adam Haller [of 1st Co., Third Battalion] Capt. Paul Flick [of 8th Co., Fourth Battalion] Capt. William Roulb [Roup] [of Ist Co., Fifth Battalion] Capt. Lt. John Connelly [of 3rd Co., Sixth Battalion] 183 32 Fit 33 Total 1 on command 29 Fit 35 Total I sick, 4 on command 32 Total 32 Fit 2 Deserters 32 Total 30 Fit 2 on command 2 Deserters 2 Deserters Out of the total of 200 men, 179 were fit for duty, while 17 had deserted before the return was made. Waggoner and Flick presumably volunteered to serve out of their turn which would have been with the 8th Class. By the middle of August only five battalions in Lancaster County had elected all their officers. Commissions, predated 1 July 1777, were not issued until 25 August when the first contingent of militia had arrived at Chester. Eventually ten battalions were establis6d in the county, but which of these were first settled has not been determined: Field Officers, Lancaster County Battalions" First Battalion: Col. Philip Greenawalt; Lt. Col. Philip Marsteller; Major Samuel Jones [corn. 1 July 1777] Second Battalion: Col. James Watson; Lt. Cot James Porter; Major Dorrington Willsoss [elected 20 May 1777, cam. 1 July 17771 Third Battalion: Col. Alexander Lowry; Lt. Col. James Cunningham; Major Jacob Cooke Fourth Battalion: Cal. Robert Elder; Lt. Col. James Cowden; Major Stephen Forster [corn. 1 July 1777] Fifth Battalion: Col. Jacob Clatz; Lt. Cot Philip Stouffer; Major Jacob Richard [corn. 25 October 1777] Sixth Battalion: Col. John Rogers; Lt. Col. Robert Clark; Major William Brown [corn. 31 July 1777] Seventh Battalion: Col. John Boyd; Lt. Col. George Stewart; Major James Mercer [elected May, 1777; corn. 8 December 1777] Eighth Battalion: Cot Peter Grubb Ninth Battalion: Col. John Huber; Lt. Col. Samuel Jones; Major Adam Bower Tenth Battalion: Col. David Jenkins; Lt. Col. Jacob Rarpenter; Major Henry Mercle [cam. 6 December 1777] No returns have been found of the 1st Class men called out from these battalions, but from surviving substitute records it is probable that one company under Captain Michael App of the let Company, Fifth Battalion, was already in service. Another, under Captain John Ging48 la Series, V. 321-522, 132. For the battalion field officers, see fib Series, VII, 20-28; 101-109; 191-192; 119-361; 464-466; 329-933; 637-639; 912813; 871-972; 974-989. Some officers of Col. Rogers. Sixth Battalion did not receive their commissions until 18 October; see ibid., 931. 184 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine rich of the 1st Company, Ninth Battalion, was at "Schuylkill and Darby." °1 At the end of August, Armstrong found 216 men of Lancaster County's 2nd Class present, 192 of which were fit for duty: RETURN OF 2ND CLASS, LANCASTER C017NTY " Commanded by Colonel James Watson At Chester, 28 August 1777 Capt. Thomas Robeson [of 2nd Co., Third Battalion] Capt. James Collier [of 2nd Co., Fourth Battalion] Capt. David Whitehill [of 2nd Co., Seventh Battalion] 37 Fit 48 Total 10 on command 29 Fit 37 Total 4 on command 22 Fit 22 Total Unfortunately the return is so mutilated that the names of the other three company captains under Watson's command are illegible. In addition to Greenawalt's and Watson's battalions at Chester the end of August, there were also 3rd Class men from Lancaster County totalling 196 rank and file, of which 171 were fit for duty: RETLIRN Or 3hD CLASS, LANCASTER COUNT( 51 Commanded by Colonel Alexander Lowry At Chester, 28 August 1777 Capt. John Johnson [of 3rd Co., Second Battalion] Capt. Joseph Work [of 3rd Co., Third Battalion] Capt. John Rutherford [of 3rd Co., Fourth Battalion] Capt. Thomas Kopenhever [of 3rd (1st1) Co., Sixth Battalion] Capt. John Rolands [of 3rd Co., Seventh Battalion] 43 Fit 43 Total 44 Fit 3 sick 57 Total 9 on command 31 Fit 37 Total 2 sick, 1 deserter 34 Fit 40 Total 4 on command 19 Fit 19 Total 4 on command 3 deserters 6115,, ibid., 101111, for the discharge for Philip Galaher (sir), dated 29 Oct. 1777, by Cape. APP. For other 1st Class men, most of whom enured in September, see ibid., 609-664, 667, 670, 651, 10501087. For Capt. Gingrich', earn., so, peudon of Luderick Friedly, Centre Co., Pension Applications, cited in Note 24 above. Capt. Thomas Kopenheffer of 1st Co., Sixth Battalion, and his company were stationed at Chester, but in Col. Lowry's Third Battalion, possibly became so few 1st Class snen had as yet turned out; sm 2orii Series, X111, 359, and sib Series, VII, 533. 50 Ibid., 110-111. For the permanent billets of the officers whose names are given in the return, tee ibid., 191, wherein Robeson's name is gives,, Robinson; 559, 618. Two Other officers, CM , Amblme Crain of 2nd Co., and Capt. James MeCteight of Sod Co., Sixth Battalion, were at Chester 30 August according to led Series, XIII, 359, and S ob Series, VII, 554, 539. However, the classification of the mptains in the Sixth Battalion varies in the two lists dated 1 777, sod leaves she permanent billets of Kopenheffer. Crain and McCreight uncertain. 01 For the return see ibid., 521-526. For probable permanent billets of captains, see ibid., 107, 191, 357459, 530, 533, but see also Note 49 above for confusion reguding Kopenheffer's billet; 601. The Pennsylvania Militia in 1777 185 Armstrong found that the total militia present at Chester the end of August amounted to about 3000 men. These he now divided into two brigades. The First Brigade of about 1800 men was placed under the command of General Potter and sent forward to join General Washington and his army, now advancid below Wilmington to watch for the British army. By 29 August, a rifle battalion of 300 privates under the command of Colonel James Dunlap of Cumberland County, "a prudent man, and not unacquainted with the business of a Partizan," was also sent forward as part of the First Brigade. To these were added 160 men withdrawn from Billingsport. The St•cond Brigade would be under the command of James Irvine who had been appointed a brigadier general on 26 August by the Supreme Executive Council; his arrival at Chester was expected momentarily. His men would not join the Continental Army, but would be retained at Wilmington since most of them were without arms. At the request of General Washington, orders also went out to Lancaster to send down all the militia which might have been stopped there by the order of 23 August." Meanwhile York County finally had been divided into battalion districts and officers elected. Such records for 1777 as have survived appear to be badly garbled in their publication; as a result, battalion officers for only a part of the militia for the county are certain, and the dates of their commissions are not all known: Field Officers, York County Battalions" First Battalion: Colonel James Thompson Second Battalion: Colonel William Rankin, Lt. C,ol. John Ewing; Major John Morgan [as of 1 October 1777) Third Battalion: Colonel David Jameson Fourth Battalion: Colonel John Andrew Five companies of the First Battalion under Colonel Thompson had been started on their way to the camp at Chester before the end of August. At least one of these, that of Captain Samuel Ferguson of the 1st Company, Second Battalion, had entered into service 9 August, and may have been stopped at Lancaster, pursuant to the order of 23 August, so that by the time it arrived at Wilmington, half of its two months' tour had expired." The nuinbu of men at Chester the end of August is derived from the return made 1 Sept., for which see the teat hsfra, and Note 55 below. For the division il3s0 brigades, the rifle regiment, and order to Lancaster, are 1st Serks, V. 561-164, 568, 570. For Irvine's appointment, see Colonial Records, XI, 278. 68 According to Henry J. Young, who made a study of the York militia in 1942 when he was director of the York Co. Historical Society, the published records for York militla are incorrectly arranged, especially those for the Sixth sod Eighth, and Fifth and Seventh Battalions. He prepared a table showing what he considered the correct company arrangement, available in blueprint form from the State Archives. For battalion officers in 1775 for the first four battalions, however, see 6th Series, II, 422-426, 457-460 (in 1777) and 585-586, 476-479, 501-506. 56 1st Series, V, 560. For Ferguson's company, see 6tb Series, II, 613. For the company stopped at Lancaster, 5th Serks, V. 575. 186 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine Before Armstrong had divided the men under his command into two brigades, a general return of the militia was compiled; though dated 1 September, it was probably made up from an earlier return which has not been found: GENERAL RETURN OF PENNSYLVANIA MILITIA 5. At Wilmington, 1 September 1777 City Phila. Co. Phila. Co. Bucks Chester Lancaster Lancaster Lancaster York Berks Berks Lt. Co! Smith 353 Fit 371 Total [3rd Class] 6 capts., 11 Its., 13 sick, 7 deserters [to 2nd Brigade] Col. Benjamin McVeagh 168 Fit 266 Total [3rd Class] 7 capts., 11 Its., 22 sick, 65 on command, 12 deserters [to 1st Brigade] Col. John Moore 155 Fit 267 Total [2nd Class] 7 capts., 11 Its., 18 sick, 79 on command, 12 deserters [to 1st Brigade] Major John Folwell 129 Fit 191 Total [3rd Class] 5 capts., 3 Its., 15 sick, 34 on command, 4 deserters [to let Brigade] Co!. Evart Evans 291 Fit 347 Total [2nd Class] 8 capts., 14 Its., 5 sick, 51 on command, 2 deserters [to 2nd Brigade] Col. Philip Greenawalt 168 Fit 171 Total [1st Class] [to 2nd Brigade] Co! James Watson 134 Fit 142 Total [2nd Class] 4 capts., 6 its., 5 sick, 5 deserters [to 1st Brigade] Col. Alexander Lowry 116 Fit 141 Total [3rd Class] 4 capts., 7 Its., 10 sick, 15 on command, 2 deserters [to 2nd Brigade] Col, James Thompson 123 Fit 125 Total [1st Class] 4 capts., 2 Its. [to 1st Brigade] Co! Daniel Hunter 186 Fit 281 Total [1st Class] 5 capts., 11 Its., 26 sick, 61 on command, 7 deserters [to 1st Brigade] Col. Daniel Udree 117 Fit 194 Total [2nd Class] 6 capes., 9 Its., 5 sick, 61 on command, 45 deserters [to 2nd Brigade] According to this return, out of 2496 enlisted men present, only 1940 were fully armed and accoutred and fit for duty. Of the total, 416 were out on command, 127 were sick in camp, and there had been 98 desertions. The grand total, including officers, was 3024 men. The Cumberland and Northampton County 1st Class men were not included, the former having been sent down to Washington's army, the latter perhaps still on the works at Chester. The following Wednesday, 3 September, Colonel Thompson's York County companies had been increased from the four, listed on 1 September, to seven companies: RETURN OF 1ST CLASS, YORK COUNTY Commanded by Colonel James Thompson "As it stood at Wilmington," 3 September 1777 1St Co., Capt. William Dodds [of 1st Co., First Battalion] 38 men The clams and brigade, to which the men were 55 For the return, see Ta Snits, V. 26-27. assigned have been inserted 112 brackets in the text for reference, they do not appear in the original. °° Foe the active-duty captains of Thompson's battalion, see 610 Series, II, 612, and for date of expiration of service for Ferguson s company, 616. His command was taken over by James Elliot, when Ferguson was killed at Brandywine. In general, the permanent billets given in the text are taken from Henry Young's arrangement, cited in Note 53 above. In 610 Sesks, II, 515, 559, however, Meyer is aptdie 0 5806580 Bailing& 81000 01 0398810 10 1771 10 FMK 000111160; 600 bitte The Pennsylvania Militia in 1777 2nd Co., Capt. Samuel Ferguson 3rd Co., [Illegible] 4th Co., Capt. Thomas Latta Ith Co., Capt. John Laird 6th Co., Capt. Peter Ford 7th Co., Capt. John Meyers 187 [of 1st Co., Fourth Battalion/] 41 men [of 1st Co., Fifth Battalion] [of 1st Co., Sixth Battalion] [of 3rd Co., Third Battalion/] [of let Co., Seventh Battalion] 31 mess 32 men 27 men 18 men Permanent billets of most of the above captains remain uncertain because of the confused presentation of the published records and lack of muster rolls. Records for Philadelphia city militia are reasonably complete for this period. Muster rolls for the 3rd Class men at Wilmington on the same day survive: Company Captains, 3rd Class Philadelphia City" Commanded by Colonel J. B. Smith Mustered at Wilmington, 3 September 1777 William Smith, corn. 2 August 1777 [of 3rd Co., First Battalion] Philip Pancake, corn. 2 August 1777 [of 3rd Co., Second Battalion] Conrad Rush, cam. 2 August 1777 [of 3rd Co., Third Battalion] Adam Foulk, cam. 2 August 1777 [of 3rd Co., Fourth Battalion] Anthony Lechler, corn. 4 August 1777 [of 3rd Co., Fifth Battalion] No muster roll appears to have survived for the sixth company which the general return of 1 September showed was present. Presumably it was the company of Captain Ephraim Falkner from the Sixth Battalion, 3rd Company. By the end of that first week in September, there were still 50 city militia of the 1st and 2nd Classes at Billingsport. Having only eight more days to serve, they had been left behind to serve out their time with a company of Continental artillery. Across at Fort Mifflin on Mud Island, another company of Continental artillery and fifteen men of Colonel Moore's 2nd Class men from Philadelphia County had been left there when Armstrong had sent the rest of Moore's battalion down to Wilmington the end of August. Now, on 5 September, the balance of the militia in service moved forward. Potter's brigade accompanied the whole of the Continental Army as it marched southwards as far as Newport in Delaware State. The Second Brigade, under James Irvine, was ordered to relieve the men of General Nash's brigade "on the Cattle Guard on the east side of Brandywine as soon as possible." " 57 For muster rolls of five of Col. Smith's active-duty companies, see 655 Series, I, 486-497, and for his permanent billet in Fourth Battalion, 167. For Capt. Ephraim ralkner of the 3rd Co., Sixth Battalion, see ibid., 393. His company presumably was also present at Wilmington 5 September, since the General Rxturn of 1 September showed 6 captains present. For permanent billets of the company, see ibid., 20, 111, 195, 284, 343, wherein Lechler', name is given as Leglmer. See also ibid., 809, for new commission issued Lechler 25 August, and PMHB, XXI (1897), 500-501, for orders issued Smith's battalion. It should be noted that In 6th Series, II, 809, the officers lined there are all city officers, not in the county 55 1st Series, V. 573, 587; PMH13, XXXI5.5 458 cited in Note 46 above. 188 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine According to a return dated 6 September, the two Pennsylvania brigades showed an increase in the number of rank and file now present. These numbered 2973, the greatest total shown on any of the surviving returns. Of this number, 2133 were fit for duty, 915 were on command, but desertions had increased to 104: RETURN OF PENNSYLVANIA MILTTIA 5. 6 September 1777 Potter's Brigade Phila. Co. Cot Moore 155 Fit 287 Total [2nd Class] 7 capts., 11 Its., 18 sick, 79 on command, 12 deserters Phila. Co. Cot McVeagh 230 Fit 280 Total [3rd Class] 7 capts., 11 Its., 26 sick, 4 on command, 8 deserters Bucks Major Folwell 122 Fit 154 Total [3rd Class] capts., 2 Its., 14 sick, 6 on command Lancaster Cot Watson 58 Fit 146 Total [2nd Class] 4 capts., 6 ks., 7 sick, 76 on command, 6 deserters Berks Cot Hunter 184 Fit 272 Total [1st Class] 5 capts., 7 Its., 27 sick, 47 on command, 2 deserters York Col. Thompson 121 Fit 127 Total [1st Class] 4 capts., 4 Its., 6 sick Cumberland Cot Dunlap 150 Fit 264 Total [1st Class] 4 capts., 4 Its., 15 sick, 95 on command, 3 deserters Irvine's Brigade 353 Fit 371 Total 6 capts., 11 Its., 13 sick, 7 deserters 282 Fit 342 Total Chester Col. Evans 8 capts., 14 Its., 27 sick, 30 on command, 17 deserters 66 Fit 132 Total Lancaster Col. Greenawalt 3 capts., 5 Its., 3 sick, 61 on command, 2 deserters 90 Fit 175 Total Lancaster Cot Lowry 4 capts., 7 Its., 12 sick, 69 on command, 2 deserters 139 Fit 213 Total Northampton Lt. Cot Barnet 4 capts., 8 Its., 23 sick, 48 on command 183 Fit 210 Total Berks Cot Udree 5 capts., 10 Its., 21 sick, 1 on command, 45 deserters City Lt. Col. Smith [3rd Class] [2nd Class] [1st Class] [3rd Class] [1st Class] [2nd Class] The withdrawal of the militia sent forward to join the army to the south had left the works at Billingsport, Fort (Mud) Island, Darby Creek and elsewhere along the Delaware almost without guards. To supply this deficiency, Colonel Eyre was directed to repair to those works with For the return see 1st Series, V. 595, mid 551, Stria, V. 2541- The four mptains under Col. Dunlap of Cumberland Co. may have included Thomas /Whey and John Williams, mentioned in Note 59 above, in addition to Capt. Gregg and Capt. McCoy. The total of 264 rank and file lined in this return is almost identical with die total number of privates listed on the rolls cited in that note. This suggests that these OICIl Wag regrouped into large companies, and that all the captains had not marched as mein the army. The Pennsylvania Militia in 1777 189 the two companies of his artillery now called out, and to dispose them as seemed most advantageous. On 6 September a further call for an additional class of militia, to rendezvous at Darby, was sent out to the County Lieutenants. Thus the 4th Classes of the city and of Philadelphia County were called up, as well as the 3rd Class of Chester County, the 2nd Class from York and Cumberland Counties, and the 1st Class from Northumberland." Colonel Eyre posted Captain Samuel Massey's company of 1st Class artillery at the mouth of Darby Creek where they mustered 9 September, and sent Captain McCullough's 2nd Class of artillery to Fort Mifflin where they mustered the following day, 10 September. By that time, the advance of the British forces from the head of Elk River had caused Washington to move his forces "along the great road from Wilmington to Lancaster; thence thro' Kennett township, Chester County; crossed the Brandywine and turning S. E. encamped in the township of Birmingham, being extremely fatigued for want of rest and severe marching." Here 400 of Armstrong's First Brigade of militia were drawn out to act as pickets in conjunction with a Continental detachment. Irvine's Philadelphia County militia were posted in charge of the waggon train and stores on the road to Chester." The next day, 11 September, while the city waited nervously for news of the outcome of the meeting of the two armies—"the Enemy being near at hand & this minute engaging our Army"—the Supreme Executive Council ordered the colonels of the First, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Philadelphia County Battalions (Hiester, Dean, Curry and Antes) to rendezvous their men at the Swedes' Ford in case the British should try to cross there. The colonels of the Second and Third Battalions (Moore and McVeagh) were directed to rendezvous their men at the Falls of Schuylkill, while Colonel Warner's Seventh Philadelphia County Battalion was to assemble at Darby. All able bodied men in Bucks County were urged to turn out with arms and accoutrements; those without arms were to supply themselves with axes, spades and other entrenching tools. Colonels Erwin, Keller and Roberts of the Second, Third and Fourth Bucks County Battalions were to send their men to join the Philadelphia militia at the Swedes' Ford, and Colonels Tomb and McIlvaine of the First and Fifth Battalions were to bring their men to the city. The officers commanding the Bucks militia "now at the 50 151 Serie+, V. 391, 192. Coknual Records, XI, 293. 2nd Series, XM, 642444. "Diary of Lieutenant jam,, McMichael, of the Pennsylvania Line, 1776-1778," PMHB, XVI (1892), 149; ibid., XXXIV, 463; Benjamin Hamlet, "The Continental Army at Camp Pottsgrove," Montgomery County Historical Society Sketches, III (1905), 12, hereinafter cited as Montgomery Co. Vedas. 190 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine Barracks" in the city were to send guards of four men each to Robin Hood Ford over Schuylkill, to the Upper Ferry, to the bridge at High Street and to Gray's Ferry (the Lower Ferry) to join the artillery placed there." Down on the Brandywine, most of the Pennsylvania militia, having been posted at places well removed from the actual scene of the battle, "had no opportunity of engaging." Pension applications, however, indicate that at least part of Potter's brigade saw some action. Men from the lit Class of Philadelphia County still in service under Captain John Hamilton of the Fifth Battalion were posted on the extreme left wing of the American army betweeft Chadd's Ford, where the Hessians under General Knyphausen began crossing the Brandywine, and the lower ford, known as Pyle's, less than two miles south. As the enemy began crossing, Hamilton's men were ordered to retreat back upon rising ground, from which point they "kept up an incessant fire upon the enemy while [they] were crossing." When this detachment of militia were forced to withdraw in the face of superior forces, they marched to "Christeen Bridge" where they lay on their arms for what was left of the night. From there they marched to rendezvous at Radnor Meeting House. A company of 2nd Class men from Lancastek County, under Captain Ambrose Crain of the Sixth Battalion, also seems to have engaged the Hessians "about a mile below where the general battle was fought." They retreated from the Brandywine to Chester, where they arrived the next morning." With the city now in imminent danger of occupation, Council on 12 September sent out orders for the 3rd and 4th Classes of Berks and Northampton Counties to rendezvous immediately at the Swedes' Ford. The 3rd Class of York, the 4th Class of Chester, and the 2nd Class of Northumberland were also called into immediate service, and two more companies of city artillery were called up. The next day, the 13th, as more definite news of the result of the Brandywine engagement came in, the 4th and 5th Classes of Bucks County, and the Sth and 6th Classes of both Philadelphia city and county were summoned to duty." Colonial Records, XI, 300-302. Council also considered calling out additional city militia, but waited to hear the remit of the battle. The Bucks militia at the Barruks may have been lately arrived substitutes who had not been sent down to the army for lack of sufficient arms, (Philadelphia, 1862), 309-310. See 88 George Smith, History of Dekttuare County, Pestosylvonis also Pmsion Applications, cited in Note 24 above, for Joseph Armstrong, Columbia Co., of Hamilton's Company, and for John Rumage, Lyconfing Co., of Crain', Company, and the movements of these companies. For the captains' permanent billets, see 2ttd Series, XIII, 603, and 5th Series, VII, 530, 534. 04 Cotonial Records, XI, 302-304; 1s0 Series, V, 615, in which Bucks is misprinted for &As, and the 40h and 5th Classes of Philadelphia Co. are misprinted for the Soh and 6th Cl,,,,,. The city's 5th and 6th Classes arc not specifically mentioned in this letter to the Coumy Lieutenant, but Council had passed the resolution for their calling out on 00 September, and the order was issued 03 September The Pennsylvania Militia in 1777 191 The same day on orders from Washington, General Armstrong was instructed to establish "small close Redoubts" at the Swedes' Ford "and other practicable passes for some distance up the River," employing in this duty "some of the Militia at present in the field." Thus, when the Philadelphia County militia attached to Potter's brigade arrived from Radnor Meeting House at the Swedes' Ford on 14 September, they found there some militia "and an engineer laying out some breast works and Batteries." " These works may have been manned by Captain William Prowell's 4th Class city artillery company, or by Captain Andrew Summers' 5th Class city artillery, both of which mustered on 15th September. Down river, Colonel J. B. Smith's 3rd Class battalion of city militia, stationed "at or near Robin Hood Tavern on the Wissahickon road," were probably joined by Captain Peter Browne's 3rd Class city artillery, but no muster for them at this date has been found." From Germantown, where the Continental Army had paused briefly to regroup after their retreat from the Brandywine, the Americans recrossed the Schuylkill on the 14th, and by 16 September had advanced to "near the White Horse" in Chester County. Here a detachment of Cumberland County militia—including Captain Alexander McCoy's 1st Class company—was sent forward with a body of regulars under General Wayne to scout the British advance. A "scrimmage with the British cavalry" on the 16th was abruptly ended by the onslaught of a violent rainstorm which lasted for some eighteen hours. Ammunition of both armies was so damaged that an anticipated general engagement between the British and Americans was impossible, and Washington withdrew his forces up into Warwick Township on the 18th to replenish his ammunition." General Potter and the balance of his brigade had been sent to the Valley Forge, with General Maxwell's New Jersey force, to guard the depot of stores at that place. After the rainstorm Washington learned that the British were again on the move, apparently headed toward the Swedes' Ford. He therefore headed his army on the 19th toward the Schuylkill. Leaving Wayne behind to guard the rear, the army crossed at Parkers' Ford into Limerick Township and marched south through 66 Ibid., 617. The militia sent direct to the Schuylkill fords included Irvine's brigade; these men being inadequately armed could be wed most effectively in these defensive measures. 66 For the artillery returns, see 2nd Series, XIII, 647, 648. For the location of Smith's battalion, see the Eventing Post, 16 Sept. 1777, in which Smith ordered the stragglers of his command to repair immediately to that post. "For the route of Washington's army, see 'Willians S. Baker, 'Itinerary of General Washington,. PMHB, XIV (1890). 266 ff.; ibid., XVI, Ito ft.; and for the British movements, .Brandywine to Phil,delphia,” ibid., XXXIV, 229 0. For the movemmts of Capt. McCoy's company, see pension application of James McDowell, cited in Note 59 above. These Cumberland Co. militia must have formed part of Dunlap', rifle regiment noted in the teat, snpros. 192 The Pennsylvania GeWalogical Magazine the Trappe into Providfmce Township. Before leaving the west side of the river, Washington, believing Potter and Maxwell were still at the Valley Forge, ordered them to join Wayne. But the night before, a detachment of British light infantry had arrived at the Forge to find the place abandoned. Without sufficient wagons to remove the stores, the Americans, on learning of the British advance, had withdrawn to the Swedes' Ford, leaving behind great quantities of flour, soap, candles, horseshoes and nails, tomahawks, cannon balls of various sizes and all kinds of entrenching tools." While Washington's army moved down the Perkiomen to take post between Pawling's above, and Fatland Ford below the Valley Forge, the Cumberland County militia had remained attached to Wayne's force and moved toward the British, but found that they "lay too compact to admit of an attack with prudence." Then on the night of 20-21 Sotember, the militia "had taken shelter in a barn," and so escaped the surprise attack by the British "at the Piola." The British movement east from Paoli on the morning of the 21st, to a position extending from below the Valley Forge north to French Creek, led Washington to fear the enemy intended a crossing of the Schuylkill above the Americans, with the stores at Reading a possible goal. To forestall this, he started his army back "up the [Ridge] Road by which we came down," directed Sullivan's division to move on a parallel line between the army and the Schuylkill, "leaving a small Pickett at each Fording Place as a Party of Observation," and ordered Maxwell and Potter to march up from the Swedes' Ford with their men to join Sullivan. Captain John Hamilton's company of Philadelphia County militia in Potter's brigade, was sent to Fatland Ford "five miles up the Schuylkill" from the Swedes' Ford, where they had been posted since the 14th; they were unable to hold the ford when a detachment of British light infantry and dragons attempted a crossing there 22 September. "After firing a few cannon shots," they withdrew from their post." 8 8 Potter end his brigade probably had been sent to the Valley Forge when the army had recrossed the Schuylkill 14 September, for at a council of war 23 Septemb., 'Washington r.apitulated the movements of the army for the benefit of Armstrong and Potter who "had been detached from the main Body of the Army," and were not fully cogniamt of the reasons for the recent maneuvers. See Worthington Chauncey Ford, "The Defenses of Philadelphia in 1777," PMHB, XVIII (1894), 338. Armstrong', time had been occupied in supervising the works being established along the entire length of the lower Schuylkill. S. William B, Reed, Life and Corresponden” of Joseph Reed (Philadelphia, 1847), I, 311312, hereinafter cited as Reed, Life. For notice that Potter, and Maxwell at Potts' Forge we. to join Wayne, see J. Smith Puthey, "The Measure of Paoli," PMHB, I (1877), 301n; for the abandoned norm, "Journal of Captain John Montressor," ibid., VI (18112), 38, and "Letters of Major Baunneister During the Philadelphia Campaign," ibid., LDC (1935), 411. 89 Pension application of James McDowell, cited in Note 59 above; Reed, Life, I, 312; PMHB, XXXIV, 231; ibid., XVIII, 338; William H. Been, "Washington's Army Located," Montgomery Co. Sketches, III, 296; PMHB, LIX, 412. The Pennsylvania Militia in 1777 193 Later that day, the British effected a crossing at G0rdon's Ford, opposite French Creek, forcing the picket established there to withdraw. That night the British began sending the army to the east side of the Schuylkill over both fords. Downstream the men left at the Swede? Ford abandoned that post, leaving "two 18 Pounders on the works then loaded but not spiked." Out-maneuvred by the British, the Continental Army, which had encamped briefly a mile above the Trappe, now moved off toward New Hanover, finally coming to rest in the hills about Swamp Creek, leaving the road to Germantown and Philadelphia open to the British.'" Meanwhile, up in Northumberland County the order of 6 September calling up for the second time the 1st Class had not been received until the 10th. On that day the County Lieutenant at Fort Augusta, Samuel Hunter, reported that the 1st Class and part of the 2nd Class had been sent to the frontiers under Colonel John Kelly of the First Battalion, agreeable to the general instructions which Council had sent earlier in the summer to him and to Bedford and to Westmoreland, the other counties most exposed to the danger of Indian depredations. Hunter assured the Council he would do his utmost to put these new orders into execution, and when the order of 12 September arrived a few days later, called up the balance of 2nd Class men not on duty on the frontiers. At least two companies from Northumberland are known to have marched to join the Continental Army by the end of September: that of Captain James Thompson of the 2nd Company, First Battalion, and that of Captain Michael Weaver of the 2nd Company, Third Battalion, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Hugh White. Presumably he was of the First Battalion, if he had turned out according to regulations." On 17 September, while Washington's army was starting to dry out from the torrential rain of the day before, Council had ordered into the field the 5th Class of Chester County, with instructions for the men to be sent forward in companies to join the nearest brigade as soon as they were formed. On the 18th, Jacob Morgan, the County Lieutenant See The Journals of Henry Mekbior Mublesberg (Philadelphia. 1958), III, 78-79, hereinafter cited as Mubleaberg laartsals, for the movements of the army around Trappe and into New Hanover; also Montgomery Co. Sketches, III, 20, 21, for the location of the camp "near Pottsgrove." For the abandonment of the Swedes' Ford, see PMHB, VI, 41, and ibid., XXX1V, 232. This latter account reports that the Americans left 6 "pieces of Iron Cannon behind them" on the approach of the British. 72 1st Series, V, 610. Hunter probably started calling up the remaining 2nd Clus men even before the order of 12 September reached him. For the arrival of these companies at camp just after the battle at Germantown, see Pension Applications, cited in Note 24 above, for William Clark, Columbia Co., who served in the company of Capt. Weaver, and of Capt. James Thompson, Union Co. For the permanent billets of the captams in 1775, see 0 05 Series, VIII, 637, for Thompson', company; ibid., 654, for 'Weavu's company. Thompson, whose commission was said to be dated 21 May 1777, in his pension application gave the commanding officer's name as Lt. Col. James White, apparently in error. 194 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine of Berks County, reported to the Council that the stores of powder in Reading were already being guarded by two companies of 3rd and 4th Class men which had been in service since the end of August. The order of 12 September, calling up those classes from Berks County, would therefore present some problems in compliance. The County Lieutenant was "badly off for want of arms," and unless he was empowered to collect a new guard for the powder, ammunition, "Continental Press and Medicinal Store," then in his county, who would be taken into Continental pay, he would have to remove the present guard to fill his quota of men. And in York County, where the order of 12 September calling out the 3rd Class was not received until the 20th, the County Lieutenant was equally bad off for arms inasmuch as "last year the arms was Nearly all taken to Campe, where they mostly remained." However, Council was assured that as many men and arms as it was possible to collect under the circumstances would be sent forward. Richard McCalester, the County Lieutenant, sent down to the Council a list of the officers so far elected in the county with their rank, though there were still many vacancies. He explained that "those Blanks are people who Refuseth to hold Comishions in the Militia, Either by Electing them or otherwise, Many tryals [having] been made in those places to no purpos." " Back in Philadelphia County, the Pennsylvania militia were now encamped on the edge of Limerick Township, a little to the southwest of the main encampment of the Continental Army in New Hanover Township. Few of the men were in any condition to proceed anywhere, "as many of them were barefobted and all excessively harrassed with their great Fatigue." But it was essential to know how many men were still fit for duty, so a general return was made of the militia in Armstrong's two brigades. Of these, only Irvine's return has been found: RETURN OP SECOND BRIGADE UNDER GENERAL JAMES IRVINE Encamped in Limerick, 23 September 1777 City Phila. Co. Chester Lancaster 216 Fit 271 Total Lt. CoL Smith 6 copes., 9 Its., 16 sick, 9 on command, 63 deserters 135 Fit 135 Total Col. Robert Curry * 11 capts., 12 Its., * a detachment from 3 regiment 210 Fit 223 Total Col. Evans 7 capts., 14 Its., 6 fit, 22 deserters 88 Fit 145 Total Col. Greenawalt 3 capts., 5 Its., 3 sick, 46 on command, 9 deserters [3rd Class] [3, 5 Classes?] [2nd Cass] [1st Class] 1st Series, V. 629, 632-634. 75 For the barefoot condition of the army, sm PMHB. XVIII, 339, cited in Note 68 above. For the return, see the Irvine Papers, I, 91, MS, HSP. See Pension Applications, cited in Note 24 above, for Capt. Peter Richards' 5th Co., Sixth Philadelphia Co. Battalion, in which Henry OM, Columbia Co., served, presumably under Col. Robert Curry. attached to Potter's brigade after the battle of Germantown. The Pennsylvania Militia in 1777 Lancaster Col. Lowry 114 Fit 169 Total 4 capts., 6 Its., 13 sick, 24 on command, 3 deserters Barks Col. Udree 149 Fit 193 Total 4 capts., 8 Its., 15 sick, 44 deserters Northampton Lt, Col. BaMet 62 Fit 193 Total 2 capts., 6 Its., 4 sick, 88 on command, 2 deserters 195 [3rd Class] [2nd Class] [1st Class] The 3rd Class men, listed on this return wader Colonel Curry of the Fifth Battalion, belonged with Colonel McVeagh's 3rd Class Battalion in Potter's brigade, and had been ordered to Falls of Schuylkill on 11 September. Ordered out 28 July, they may have been almost ready for discharge, and because of their small number, attached to Curry's brigade which was not yet filled, but which eventually was assigned to Potter's brigade. The overall total of 1329 rank and file enumerated in the return showed a reduction of about 100 men from the total of 1443 listed on 3 September. Of those present in Irvine's brigade, 57 were sick in camp, 257 were on command duty as pickets or advance guards, and only 974 were fit for duty. The total of 143 deserters probably included some stragglers who had not yet reported to camp since the British had crossed the Schuylkill to the east side the day before. Three days later on 26 September, Lord Cornwallis rode triumphantly into Philadelphia with the advance guard of his army, leaving the main body of his forces encamped in Germantown. The same day the Americans moved their main camp from New Hanover down to the Perkiomen at Permypacker's Mill where the Skippack Road crossed the creek. The Pennsylvania militia moved to a new encampment at the Trappe in Providence Township, taking over Augustus Lutheran Church to the consternation of Reverend Henry Muhlenberg. Both brigades by now apparently were in this new location, for the aged pastor complained to Colonel James Dunlap of Cumberland County, attached to Potter's brigade, about the straw and manure scattered over the floor of the church, "the objects of their gluttony, etc., on the altar," and the behavior of the men in general. As the good pastor confided to his journal, "The church was crowded with officers and privates with their guns. The organ loft was filled and one man was playing the organ while others sang to his accompaniment." " That Irvine's brigade was also in the neighborhood is evidenced by the return of his brigade made the following week: RETURN OF SECOND BIUGADE UNDER GENERAL „TAMES IRVINE Encamped near Trap, Providence Twp., 29 September 1777 City City 131 Fit 150 Total Lt. Col. Smith 6 capts., 8 Its., 2 sick, 5 on command, 121 deserters 109 Fit 110 Total Col. C,owperthwait 5 capts., 7 its., 1 sick, 14 deserters 7 . For the militia at Trappe, see Mublenberg Journals, III, go. It Irvine Papers, I, 92. [3rd Class] [5th Class] 196 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine City Col. Knox 66 Fit 70 Total 4 capts., 3 Its., 4 sick Phila. Co. Col. Dean 70 Fit 77 Total capts., 6 Its., 3 sick, 2 on command, 8 deserters Chester Col. Evans 126 Fit 158 Total 4 capts., 9 Its., 9 sick, 5 on command, 65 deserters Lancaster Cot Greenawalt 165 Fit 207 Total 5 capts., 8 Its., 10 sick, 20 on command, 18 deserters Lancaster Col. Lowry 124 Fit 169 Total 4 capts., 4 Its., 13 sick, 9 on command, 14 deserters Berk, 118 Fit 178 Total Col. Udree 4 capts., 8 Its., 10 sick, 57 deserters Northampton Lt. Col. Barnet 62 Fit 141 Total 3 capts., 5 Its., 6 sick, 2 deserters [6th Class] [4th Class] [2nd Class] [1st Class] [3rd Class] [2nd Class] [1st Class] This return showed a slight increase in overall totals. Of the 1353 rank and file, 1050 were fit for duty, but the sick had increased to 63 and desertions had soared to 387. Neither Knox's, Cowperthwait's nor Dean's battalions were at full strength, but Greenawalt had received two more companies, probably made up largely of substitutes hired during September to replace the 1st Class men in the Fifth and Seventh Lancaster County Battalions who had refused to serve." Up in Berks County the 3rd and 4th Classes, called into service 12 September, were slowly gathering. The first muster, taken 27 September when pay began, showed 246 rank and file, of which 180 were privates and 66 were substitutes: RETURN OP 3RD CLASS, BEARS COUNTY" Commanded by Colonel Michael Lindemuth Mustered 27 September 1777 Capt. Sebastian Lentz [of 3rd Co., First Battalion] Capt. Jacob Rodermel [of 3rd Co., Second Battalion] Lt. Francis Umbenhaur [of 4th Co., Third Battahon] Capt. Daniel Deturck [of 3rd Co., Fourth Battalion] Lt. John Wagoner [of 4th Co., Fifth Battalion] 17 Privates 15 Substs. 32 Total 20 Privates 10 Substs. 30 Total 30 Privates 13 Substs. 43 Total $5 Privates 55 Total 11 Privates 27 Substs. 38 Total T8 For the Lancaster Co. substitutes for 1st Class rum in the Fifth and Seventh Battalions, see Series, VII, 1080-1082, 1085-1088, 659-670, 681. stb 'IT For the return, see 51b Series, V. 129; for the officers' permanent billets, ibid., 161, 177, 199, 203, 215, 228; for substitutes' enlistments, ibid., 254, 256, 258-264. For 3rd Class substitutes in the company of Capt. Jahn Bishop, of 3rd Co., Fifth Battalion, see also ibid., 215, 218, 255, 266-268, This company was probably stmding guard over military gyro in Berk, Co. The Pennsylvania Militia in 1777 Le, Daniel Womelsdorf 47 Privates 1 Subst. 197 48 Total [of 4th Co., Sixth Battalion] Inasmuch as Umbenhaur and Lentz were adding substitutes to their companies up to at least 6 October, and Rodermel as late as 12 October, their companies probably did not leave for camp for some time. Deturck's company, which had no substitutes, and Womelsdorf's, which had only one, probably started off within a few days. Six companies of 4th Class men in Berks County mustered on the same day as the 3rd Class men. The battalion numbered 221 rank and file, of which 193 were privates, and only 28 were substitutes: RETURN OF 4TH CLASS, BERES COUNTY Commanded by Colonel Joseph Hiester Mustered 27 September 1777 Lt. Jacob Roth [of 3rd Co., First Battalion] Lt. Jacob Treibelbiss [of 3rd Co., Second Battalion] Capt. Sebastian Emrich [of 4th Co., Third Battalion] Capt. Peter Neigle [of 4th Co., Fourth Battalion] Capt. George Graul [of 2nd Co., Third Battalion?] Capt. Conrad Weiser [of 4th Co., Sixth Battalion] 17 Privates 2 Substs. 19 Total 21 Privates 8 Substs. 29 Total 32 Privates S Substs. 37 Total 70 Privates 70 Total 13 Privates 11 Substs. 24 Total 40 Privates 2 Substs. 42 Total Substitutes for men in Treibelbiss' company, as well as in Weiser's and Graul's, were being enlisted up to 12 October; probably Neigle's company, which had no need of substitutes, was the first to march. Because the classes called up on 12 and 13 September were so slow in getting to camp, General Armstrong had not "received half what has been Expected." He repOrted to the Council in Lancaster, where that body had removed on 23 September, that "We have now but about 15 hundred of the State Militia, & in a few days must fall far short of that number." His estimate of the total may have been overly pessimistic Fce the return, see ibid., 130; for tie officers' permanent billets, ibid., 162, 177, 191, 203, 190, 228; for substitute? enlisunenu, ibid., 206, 251, 256, 255-260, 262-266, 266-270. Hicster, commiasioned lieutenant colonel in May, had possibly been breveted or promoted to colonel by this time. Berke Co. officer,' names are variously spelled on all returns and muster rolls: Heiner or Hiester, Umbenhaur or Umbehaker, Neigle or Naugle, Graul or Growl. The spelling used in the text has therefore been ubi'warily chosen. Most of the lieutenants in charge of the companies were called out according to dm provisions of the militia act, as cited in Note 6 above. Graul's permanent billet, however, may be an exception, if Lt. lobs Graul it identical with Capt. George Growl noted in 5th Series, V. 206, 258, etc. 198 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine however, judging by the return of Irvine's brigade made at the beginning of October: RETURN OP SECOND BRIGADE UNDER GENERAL JAMES IRVINE 79 Trappe, 1 October 1777 City Lt. Col. Smith 118 Fit 137 Total [3rd Class] 6 capts., 12 Its., 15 sick City Col. Cowperthwait 103 Fit 120 Total [5th Class] 5 capts., 11 Its., 4 sick, 1 on command, 17 deserters City Col. Knox 93 Fit 97 Total [6th Class] 4 capts., 3 Its., 4 sick, 12 deserters Phila. Co. Col. Dean 94 Fit 99 Total [4th Class] 4 capes., 5 Its., 4 sick, 1 on command, 5 deserters, Col. and capt. absent with leave Cols. Curry & Warner 102 Fit 112 Total [5th Class] Phila. Co. 8 capts., 7 Its., 2 sick, 1 capt. and 3 its. on furlough Chester Lt. Col. Taylor 141 Fit 141 Total [2nd Class] 5 cam., 9 Its. Lancaster Col. Greenawalt 168 Fit 191 Total [1st Class] capts., 7 its., 11 sick, 3 on command, 9 deserters Lancaster Col. Lowry 112 Fit 134 Total [3rd Class] 3 capts., 7 Its., 13 sick, 7 on command, 2 deserters, 1 It. col. and 1 capt on furlough Berks Col. Udree 152 Total [2nd Class] 116 Fit 3 capts., 6 Its., 8 sick, 72 deserters Northampton Lt. Col. Balliet 65 Fit 173 Total [1st Class] 4 capes., 11 Its., 75 on command, 2 capes, and 4 substs. on command Out of a total of 1356 rank and file, effectives numbered 1112 and desertions had dropped to 127. The slight increases in some individual commands added little to the overall strength. In Lancaster on 1 October, the Council's immediate concern was with calling up the 4th and 5th Classes of Lancaster County, one hundred of which were to rendezvous immediately at Lancaster, and with settling a dispute which had arisen in Captain Joseph Brady's 7th Company of the First Battalion of Cumberland County militia. The men, who had been arguing about who was to come out when, were directed now to send the 1st and 2nd Classes to join General Washington immediately, and the 3rd Class to proceed to Carlisle to guard the stores at that place. The county's 2nd Class, called up 6 September, had been alerted 3° For Armstrong's report, us 1s5 Series, V. 642. Armstrong was anticipating the discharge of the classes called out 21 July, most of which would be through by the middle of October. Total militia in service General Washington estimated to be about 3000 at this time. In addition to Pennsylvania's, there were about 1100 from Maryland and 600 from New Jersey attached to the Continental Army. See PMHB, XVIII, 340-341. For Irvine's return, see Irvine Papers, I, 95. Lt. Col. Isaac Taylor, of the Chester Co. First Battalion, for whom see 51h Seeks. V, 453, had relieved Col. Evans who may have been SCot back to Chester Co. on other service. The Pennsylvania Militia in 1777 199 to assemble 11 September; substitutes for the class were being recruited up to at least 25 September. When the Cumberland battalion finally showed up at camp remains unknown, and no evidence has been located to indicate any had arrived by 1 October. Company Captains, 2nd Class Cumberland County" Commanded by Colonel John Davis (Called out 6 September 1777) Robert Shannon Thomas Kennedy John Trindel Lt. William Graham William Wilson Patrick jack James Power James Jack [of 2nd Co., First Battalion] [of 212c1 Co., Second Battalion] [of 2nd Co., Third Battalion] [of lot Co., Fourth Battalion] [of 2nd Co., Fifth Battalion] [of 2nd Co., Sixth Battalion] [of 2nd Co., Seventh Battalion] [of 2nd Co., Eighth Battalion] Though he could have wished for a greater striking force, Washington, encouraged by the news of Burgoyne's repulse at Freeman's Farm in New York State on the 19th, with the approval of his generals now decided to move closer to the British, the greater part of whom were still encamped in Germantown. On 1 October Pastor Muhlenberg noted in his journal that about ten in the morning several regiments which had been encamped in the neighborhood "marched off with flying banners," passed his orchard and filed off toward the Skippack Road. There they joined the main army which was moving down from Pennypacker's Mills where the army had been encamped since 27 September. The next day, the remaining troops at the Trappe, including the Pennsylvania militia under "Old Mr. Armstrong ... the major general of these troops," also "marched off down the highway," to the great relief of the entire neighborhood. Such a concentration of troops in the district had drained the farms "of wood, hay and crops, and they are being ruined," Muhlenberg had noted." The whole army halted in the center of Worcester Township, encamping on both sides of the Skippack Road while provisions for three days were cooked, and forty rounds of cartridges per man were issued to those who had guns. At six in the afternoon of 3 October the army was 05 For the call for 4th and lob Classes from Lancaster Co., sm 2nd Series, XM, 481, and Colonial Records, XI, 315. For Brady's orden, see lot Series, V. 639. For the permanent billets of the Cumberland Co. captains, see Note 38 above. For the Sod Class company rolls, see 3m! Serbs, XV, 368-521. will be noted that Lt. Graham turned out according to the regulanons of the militia act, as cited in Note 6 above. For Sod Class substitutes, see 116 Series, VI, 181-595. One of these, Christopher Brandon, was paid off 2 December, indicating he bad entered service 2 October. Payment for baggage hauled, under date of 23 Sept. 1777, could refer to either let or 2nd Clam baggage. See 3rd Sbies, VI, 656. it PMHB. XXXIV, 476. Muhlenberg Journals, III, 81, 82 200 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine under arms, their provisions in their haversacks if they had any, if not, "in their Pockets, or in such manner as may be most convenient." Blankets, baggage and all unnecessary gear were to be left behind. The Pennsylvania militia, forming the extreme right wing of the American four-pronged advance, was directed to move down the Ridge or Manatawny Road toward the British left wing, guarded by Hessian jagers who had established an outpost "beyond the Bridge" over the Wissahickon not far from John Vanderen's mills at the mouth of the creek.' It was to be a night march, with attack scheduled for 4 October. A little before sunrise, when the militia had advanced to within about a mile of the creek, a Hessian Jager patrol encountered 300 of the advance guard. Apparently mistaking the van for an isolated party, the outnumbered patrol withdrew, allowing Potter's men to rush "upon the Ozer picket at the bridge so furiously that it was compelled to fall back a little." For a time, Colonel Eyre's artillery "canonaded from the heights on each side the Wissihickon, whilst the Riflemen on opposite sides acted on the lower ground." About nine o'clock, Washington called for Armstrong to bring his militia to the center along the Germantown Road where the fighting was very heavy, leaving only a small party of militia to support Dunlap's riflemen and one field piece left with Colonel Eyre. When reinforcements ordered over to their support failed to arrive, and the Hessians were reinforced, the little detachment of militia was finally forced to retire." In the center, against which the British sent reinforcements from the city for their troops, the Continental Army began to give way, and by noon was in full retreat along with the militia. The latter, some three miles above Germantown, "fell into the Front of a superior body of the Enemy, with whom [they] engaged about three quarters of an hour, but their grape shot & ball soon intimidated & obliged [them] to retreat or rather file off." Discovering that the rest of the army had been "gone an hour or two before, & [they] the last on the ground," the militia lost no more time in making good their own withdrawal." Hoping to prevent some of the British forces in town from reinS55, the general orders entered in Gm. Mulalenberg's orderly book PMHB, XXXV (1911), 62-63; Freeman's George Washington, W, 502, cited ha Note 12 above. "For the British mcoum of the attack on the Jager outpost, see PMHB. LIV, 415-417; for Armstrong's account of the militia's activities, Itt Series, V. 645-646. "No mention Lea been found in any account mamined of General Irvine's participation in the engagements in and around Germantown. That his brigade took aome part seems to be established by the references to wounded md desertions on 4 Octobrt in Colonel Cowperthwait's 5th Class Battalion and 0310114 6th Class Battalion, for which see 2nd Series, XIII, 624-626, 654-650 The artillery companies which probably saw action were Captain Peter Browne', sod Co., and Capt. Rupee', 6th Co., each of which had one man wounded, for which see ibid., 646 651. The Pennsylvania Militia in 1777 201 forcing those in Germantown, Washington had also directed a detachment of 500 Pennsylvania militia—including Captain Crain's 2nd Class men from Lancaster County—probably supported by a body of regulars —to create a diversion at the Middle and Lower Ferries. Under cover of the fire of two field pieces directed at Ogden's ferry house on the east bank of the Schuylkill at the High Street, the militia succeeded in cutting the ferry rope, preventing any immediate pursuit by the British light dragoons posted near the ferry house." "From early in the morning until noon the soldiers who marched off from here on October 2 came back again in troops and singly with their wagons to occupy their former places here," wrote Pastor Muhlenberg on Sunday, S October. "They were tired, hungry, and thirsty," he continued, and feared the men would presently consume what provisions the neighborhood had up to now managed to keep for their own use. The Northumberland County 2nd Class men under Captain James Thompson and Captain Michael Weaver, who arrived in camp "two miles north of the Trap" the same day, listened with interest to the grumbling and complaints of the weary militiamen as they recounted the events of the battle. They were told in no uncertain terms how the militia "were not supported in yesterday's attack by the regular troops of the American army. The militiamen were egged on like young heroes and then watched from a distance. The British, on the contrary, reinforced their outposts .. . [so that] the militiamen had to withdraw." " Meanwhile, Lieutenant Colonel William Will of the Third City Battalion had been stationed at Billingsport since Brandywine in command of 4th Class men called up 6 September. With him had been posted Captain Samuel Massey's 1st Company of city artillery, sent originally to Darby Creek just before Brandywine but which, since the British arrival in Philadelphia, had been moved over to Billingsport. During and after that move, his company had been reduced by desertions to twelve men, and Will's battalion to about 100 men. For a few days this small force had been augmented by about 150 New Jersey militia, but on 2 October these were drawn off to harrass a body of British which had appeared in the neighborhood. When the enemy proved too much for the New Jersey men to handle, they retreated, thereby leaving the approach to Billingsport open to the British. Seeing that an attack by a superior 85 For references to this action see the Evening Post, 11 Oct. 1777, and "The Diary of Robert Morton,. PMHB, I, 13. See also the pension application of John Rumage, cited M Note 63 above, in which he claimed that all of Capt. Ambrose Crain', company went on this detail under the command of a Major Bosh who hes not been identified further. .0 116ssiMenberg Journals, III, 83; PMHB, XVI, 153; pension appiimbons of Capt. Thompson and 'William Clark, cited in No. 71 above. 202 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine force appeared imminent, the only alternative for the Philadelphia militia was to abandon the post. Ordered into boats with all the ammunition, most of the men were sent across the river to Fort Island. All the cannon which could not be carried off were spiked, and the barracks and bake house were set on fire." During the week following the evacuation of Billingsport, the two months' active-duty tours of a number of the classes which had been called into service on 28 July expired. The 1st Class of Berks County, the 2nd and 3rd Classes of Philadelphia County, and the 3rd Class of the city and of Bucks County were all discharged." The disorganized state of the army immediately following the battle of Germantown precluded the making of full returns of effective strength, while the arrival of new levies further confused matters. When a return was made at the end of the first week in October, the absence of some of the senior officers indicated complete order had not yet been restored: RETURN OF SECOND BRIGADE UNDER GENERAL JAMES IRVINE .9 Camp near Pawling's Mill, 7 October 1777 City Col. Cowperthwait 150 Fit 114 Total capes., 9 Its., 4 sick, 12 deserters Col. Knox 148 Fit 156 Total City 8 capts., 9 Its., 2 sick, 6 on command 28 Total Major* [Mackey] 27 Fit Chester 2 capts., 2 Its., just arrived 'Capt. Simonson 86 Fit 106 Total 4 capts., 8 Its., 2 sick, 1 on command, 41 deserters Col. Greenawalt 132 Fit 194 Total Lancaster 3 capts., 8 Its., 7 sick, 46 on command, 16 deserters Major [Samuel] Jones 26 Fit 33 Total Lancaster 1 It., 6 sick 102 Fit 132 Total Lt. Col. Mois [May] Berks 4 capts., 4 Its., 1 sick, 27 on command 78 Fit Northampton Lt. Col. Balliet 185 Total capts., 10 Its., 2 sick, 79 on command [5th Class] [6th Class] [4th Class] [1st Class?] [1st Class] [led Class] [4th Class] [1st Class] Out of the total of 988 men listed on this return, the effectives numbered only 749 rank and file. Of these, 160 were on command, desertions had dropped to 69, and those sick in camp to 24. If Major David Mackey of Chester County's Second Battalion 07 1s5 Series, V. 644 For Massey's desertions, see Sod Series, XIII, 680-681, and for Will's, ibid., 670-679 Major Baurmeister placed the evacuation at the end of September, but Colonel William Bradford was explicit in giving the date as 2 October. Baurmeister also reported that eleven spiked cannon were abandoned, and five killed and thirteen wounded were left behind, though Bradford mentioned only one wounded. See PMHB,L1X, 414. 00 Writing so the Council in Lancaster, Armstrong 001 October reported that for some time past the militia had numbered about 1700 in his two brigades. "Yesterday," he wrote, '0 today we have by See lot the expiration of time had a great falling off," then added, "but a number also coming in." Series, V. 615. 09 For the return, see Irvine papers, I, 96. The Pennsylvania Militia in 1777 203 turned out according to regulations, the company he had were 4th Class men, called out 12 September. Captain Edward Simonson belonged to the ist Company of Chester's First Battalion; perhaps he and the companies with him had agreed to stay on for an additional tour of duty. Colonel Greenawalt's 1st Class men from Lancaster County still had a week or so to serve, as did the 33 men of the 4th Class under Major Samuel Jones of Lancaster's First Battalion (assuming he had turned out in the correct rotation). The 4th Class men, under Lieutenant Colonel George May of Berks County's Third Battalion, were probably the first of that class to arrive at camp, again assuming May was serving his proper tour." General Potter's brigade had been reduced about one-half when the tours of the 1st Class of Berks County, the 2nd and 3rd Classes of Philadelphia County, and the 3rd Class from Bucks County ended a day or so after the battle of Germantown. The tour of York County's 1st Class under Colonel Thompson was technically over a few days later, as was that of Cumberland County's 1st Class. In order to bring the brigade up to strength, Chester County's 4th Class under Major Mackey, and Northumberland's 2nd Class which arrived the day after the battle of Germantown, were now assigned to Potter's command, joining the Bucks County 4th and 5th Classes which had been called out 13 September. Philadelphia County's 4th Class under Colonel Dean, the same county's 5th and 6th Classes, and some Lancaster County 2nd Class substitutes, who had entered for longer tours than the usual two months, probably completed the brigade. A greater number of these longer enlistments might be obtained, Armstrong felt, if the County Lieutenants, "of whom we see not," would only show their faces in camp. "Many substitutes might be retained that now go off," he maintained, and "Some others also when free say if they had a months pay they would stay longer." " On 8 October the Continental Army moved from its old camp on the Perkiomen over the Skippack Road down to a new encampment in Tows0 For Mackey's and Simonson's permanent billets, see 50b Series, V. 469, Jones' billet, ibid., VII, 20; for Lt. Col. George May, ibid., V, 189. 512; for Major Samuel 81 Since the 1st Class of Serbs Co. had mustered 5 August, it is assumed they were discharged about 5 October; see Mb Series, V, 127. The Philadelphia Co. classes were called 28 July, so must have bees among those discharged by 8 October; or 1s0 Series, V, 655. For pay for Sod Class substitut« from Bucks Co., 6 October, see 5th Series, V. 405. For pay roll of Capt. Samuel Ferguson's Co. of York 1st Class men, see 6011 Series, II, 614, 616. Pay t o Capt. John Williams of Cumberland's 1st Class on 9 August indicates a date of discharge two months later; s« 3,1 Series, VI, 662, also 670, for pay to Col. Dunlap 14 August. Potter signed a voucher for rations of nun up to 12 October for Dunlap's battalion, for which see Colonial Records, XI, 361. Musters or pay rolls for 4th Class Chester militia are lacking. For references to two of the companies probably belonging to this class, see 3r10 Serie, VI, 158 (Capt. John McKee of Second Battalion), and Plant, XLII (1918). 152 (Capt. Henry Barker of Seventh Battalion). For the arrival of Sod Class men from Northumberland, see Note 71 above. See pension application of John Rumage, cited in Note 63 above, for his 4-month tour in Capt. Ambrose Crain's Co. of Lancaster Co. Sod Class. For Armstrong's opinion on enlistments, see 1st Series, V, 655-656. 204 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine mencin Township. Armstrong's militia was directed to proceed in last position just ahead of the waggons transporting tents, provisions and ammunition. Two days later Pastor Muhlenberg noted in his journal that the militiamen who had been stationed in the vicinity of the Trappe passed by his house "and went south across the Schuylkill." This was Potter's brigade, once more detached from the main body of Armstrong's militia—Irvine's brigade was with the army in Towarnencin—now being "sent over to Chester County to annoy the Enemies small parties, whether Horse or foot, that may be found on the Lancaster or Derby roads, prevent provisions going to the enemy, &c." On the 10th, Council had ordered the 5th Class of Chester County, called up 17 September, to be employed in defending the inhabitants of the county from the excursions of the British, and had urged the County Lieutenant to "use his utmost endeavors to mount fifty of the Militia on Horseback, for the same purpose." It was hoped that "the Commander of that Class" would "communicate with General Potter & occasionally take his instructions." The tour of Colonel Udree's 2nd Class Berks County Battalion expired on 11 October. On the 12th, Lieutenant Colonel Balliet's battalion of 1st Class men from Northampton County, and at least Captain Jacob Rudolph's company of 2nd Class men from Chester County were all discharged. A return of General Irvine's brigade made the following day showed his command was now down to 817 men, of which 774 were fit for duty. There had been 24 desertions and 27 were sick in camp. None were on command. RETURN OF SECOND BRIGADE UNDER GENERAL JAMES IRVINE" Towamensing, 13 October 1777 City Lt. Col. William Will capts., 11 Its., 3 sick 102 Fit 10) Total [4th Class] 92 For the movement of the Continental Army, see PMHB, XVI, 154; ibid., XXXV, 68, Mnblenberg Jaffna's, III, 84. For Potter's movements, see 1s1 Seriff, V. 673; PMHB, LIX, 418-419, and LX (1936), 14. The British believed Potter, had been sent across the Schuylkill "to surprise [British] troops detached to Chester and Wilmington." Potter's force they estimated at five battalions of 1240 men, Of these, according to the British, Potter had "hardly one half" left when he withdrew from the neighborhood of Wilmington and Chester • • • the rest having disbanded, and in groups of twenty to thirty men plundered their way home." For the 5th Cl,,,, Chester Co, order, see Colonial Records, XI, 318; also lit Series, V, 673, 712. 08 For the return, see Irvine Papers, I, 98, on which the discharge of Balliet's battalion is noted. For Rudolph', discharge, so 500 Series, V. 114. As Col. Udree's battalion had entered into service 11 August, it is presumed their tour ended two months later. Since Major Peter Bell lived in Kennet Tap., which was in the Fir,, Battalion District of Chester Co., it is suggested that he was of the First Battalion, and perhaps identical with Major John Bell of that battalion. For Michael App's permanent billet in 1st Co., Fifth Battalion, see 5 10 Series, VII, 465; for substitutes in his and other 1st and Sod Clus companies, see ibid., 1080-1082, 1085.1088, 659-681. For Major Cunnius' permanent billet, see ibid., V. 165. See also the almost identical return, in the teat, infra, of Bob. Co. militia made the following week, in which almost the um! number of officers are listed under the colonels of the Sod and 4311 Cl,,,,,, but with increased rank and file. The Pennsylvania Militia in 1777 City City Chester Lancaster Berks Bed' Col. Cowperthwait 104 Fit $ capes., 8 Its., 11 sick, 2 deserters Col. Knox 105 Fit 5 capts., 5 Its., 2 sick, 11 deserters Major Peter Bell 139 Fit 8 capts., 11 Its., 2 sick, 2 deserters Capt. Michael App 106 Fit 3 capts., 4 Its., 6 sick, 8 deserters 106 Fit Lt. Col. Mots [May] 5 capts., 7 Its., 3 sick, 1 deserter Major John Cunnius 112 Fit 2 capes., 8 Its. 205 116 Total [5th Class] 107 Total [6th Class] 14? Total [3rd Class?] 123 Total [1st Class?] 109 Total [4th Class] 112 Total [3rd Class] From this report it is apparent that Colonel Will had been withdrawn from Fort Island with his 4th Class men, probably because Washington had sent down reinforcements from the regular army. Major Bell's identity is uncertain, and the lack of muster rolls prevents positive identification of the eight companies in his command. They were probably late enlistments of 3rd Class men, called up on 6 September. As senior officer present from Lancaster County, Captain Michael App's command must have included the substitutes hired for his own 1st Class and a good many of the 2nd Class substitutes, all of which had been enlisted during September. Major Cunnius of the First Battalion no doubt brought down the first companies of 3rd Class men from Berks County. The whole army, including Irvine's brigade, moved on 16 October to the grounds in Worcester Township which they had "occupied before the action of the 4th," thereby hoping "to divert the enemy's attention and force from the forts" on the Delaware which had been under periodic attack by the British since the fall of Billingsport. The next day, a small detachment of militia from Berks County arrived at the Trappe where they encamped that night and then went on to join the army in Worcester. Militia from other counties still had not appeared in large numbers. Washington complained to the Council in Lancaster on 17 October that Pennsylvania had "but Twelve hundred Militia in the Field, at a time when the Enemy are endeavoring to make themselves compleatly masters of, and to fix their Winter Quarters in her Capital." Since "the term of service of great numbers of the Militia of this State, who were called out some time ago, has expired, and their places have been by no means punctually filled up by succeding Classes," he went on, he urged the Council "not only to keep up the number of 4000 men demanded by Congress," but to get "at least one half of the men capable to bear arms ... into the Field." Armstrong echoed his sentiments, pointing out to Council that at no time had the numbers of the militia "exceeded 2973 rank and file." " PMHB, XIV, 271-272; ibid., XXXV, 82. 678-679. Mublenberg /mime's, III, 87. 1st Scrim V. 672, 206 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine On 19 October Samuel Massey's greatly reduced city artillery company mustered prior to its discharge. Probably John McCullough's company also mustered, but no return has survived. That same day the British withdrew from Germantown into Philadelphia proper where they encamped "behind the ten redoubts that had been thrown up between the Delaware and Schuylkill" north of the city limits. Two day later Washington moved his army forward into Whitpain Township, within fifteen miles of Philadelphia." On that day a new return was taken of the Pennsylvania militia attached to the main army: RETURN OF SECOND BRIGADE UNDER GENERAL JAMES IRVINE City City City Chester Lancaster York Berks Beebe Camp in Whitpain, 21 October 1777 Lt. Col, Will 100 Fit 100 Total [4th Class] 6 capes., 11 lts. CoL Cowperthwait 104 Fit 112 Total [5th Class] 5 capts., 8 Its., 5 sick, 2 on command 105 Fit 114 Total Col. Knox [6th Class] capes., 5 Its., 8 sick, 1 on command, 23 deserters 132 Fit 137 Total [3rd Class] Major Peter Bell 7 capts., 9 Its., 2 sick, 4 deserters Capt. Michael App 80 Fit 103 Total [1st Class?] 3 capes., 5 Its., 5 sick, 11 on command 77 Fit 77 Total [2nd Class] Major Vanarsdale 2 capes., 4 Its., Have marched to join Potter's brigade with a detachment just arnved under Major Chamberlain, in the whole ill rank and file [3rd Class] 133 Fit Col. Lindemuth 169 Total [3rd Class] 2 capts., 7 Its., 4 sack, 30 on command, 3 deserters 86 Fit 129 Total Col, Hiester [4th Class] 5 capts., 7 Its., 6 sick, 35 on command Totals on this return, including the York County detachment under Major Chamberlain, showed that out of the 941 men present, 817 were fit for duty, 30 were sick in camp, 79 were on command, and there had been 34 desertions. Major Simon Vanarsdale's permanent billet in 1777 was probably the same as it was in 1778 when he was in York County's Fourth Battalion. The same was probably true for Major James Chamberlain, who in 1778 was attached to the First Battalion. Assuming both men turned out according to regulations, it would appear that they had brought to camp 2nd and 3rd Class companies, largely made up of substitutes, which at the beginning of the month still had not supplied their quotas because of lack of money to pay 9, For the return of Capt. Museys company, me 6lb Series, I. 534. For Me British move to Philadelphia, see PAIIIB, LX, 34-35; for the Amerman's move, ibid., XIV, 273. 011F,m the morn, sm Irvine Papers, I, 99. For the 1775 billets of Major Chamberlain and Major Vanarsdale, see 6th Series, II, 422, SOL For the conditions m York County relative to the hiring of substStmes and lack of money, see 1st Series, I, 640-641, 692, and Colonial Records, XI, 316. The Pennsylvania Militia in 1777 207 bounties. Colonel Lindemuth of the Third Battalion and Colonel Hiester of the Fourth Battalion were now in charge of their respective classes of Berks County militia. On the 22nd, General Armstrong appeared in Lancaster before Council, probably at Washington's request. He presented the state of the militia, pointing out the need to keep in the field more men than had so far entered into service. The next day, 23 October, Council ordered out additional classes: from Philadelphia County, the 7th and 8th; from Bucks, Chester and Lancaster Counties, the 6th and 7th; from Cumberland and Northumberland the 3rd and 4th; from York the 4th and 5th; from Berks and Northampton the 5th and 6th Classes. If the men in these classes did not turn out in sufficient numbers, each County Lieutenant was directed to turn out the next two classes. As an inducement offered to those who had not turned out in their proper turn, if they would now do so, their services would be "received as a full compensation for their former neglect." " Meanwhile, over in Chester County the f th Class had been stationed "where it appeared most for ye safety of this County," and a small troop of horse manned by volunteers had been organized. Want of arms, however, had prevented the militia from "extending the lines as extensive as necessary." General Potter had called this 5 th Class to join his brigade, for up to the last week in October he had had no more than about 400 men which he kept out in "partys by night and day." They had been busy preventing the country people from bringing into the city provisions of any sort, and in moving back "all the Beef Cattle and the flower that was in this part of the county." The end of October he was reinforced by the arrival of about 300 militia, but lack of returns prevents their certain identification." During the last week of October a drenching northeast storm effectually halted military operations. On the 31st, when it had stopped raining, Washington informed General Potter he would send over some Virginia militia "as soon as the Schuylkill is fordable," who were to assist aT Catania? Records, XI, 331, 359-360; Ise Seeks, V, 693-695. The Council minutes in error called for the 6th and Ith Classes from 13erks Co. That the 5th and 6th were intended is evidenced in the memo sent to Jacob Morgan of the same day, and his acknowledgment, for which see ibid., 673, 756. OS 1st Series, V. 712, 718-719, 755. For the horse of the 5th Class apparently atationed at Doe Run in Londonderry Top., see 3rd Series, VI, 155. Al this time Potter estimated that the largest number of militia which had taken the field had been 2850 privates, 1500 of which had participated in the batde at Germantown. He also said that at the present time—the end of October—there were not more than 1500 in the field. Furthermore, he complained that he ..did not think It Had Been in the power of man to find such mm for Officers as some ore have. You cant consave [concave] what son of Beings they arc'. 208 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine him in "breaking up the road by which the enemy have a communication with their shipping over the Islands [at the mouth of the Schuylkill], and to remove the running stones from the mills in the neighborhood of Chester and Wilmington." The latter order Potter was instructed to execute immediately with his present force; he was to be sure to send men to "Lloyd's mills about two Miles on this side of Chester," to "Shaw's about one Mile back of Chester, Robinson's, on Naaman's Creek, and the Brandywine Mills." The stones were to be removed "to such distance that the Enemy cannot recover them." Any flour in the mills was also to be taken." At this time Potter's men were scattered at different posts extending "from Vanderings on the Schuylkill to Grubbs on the Delaware." These detachments included 50 men at Boone's Dam, 30 at Gray's Ferry, 100 at the Middle Ferry, 25 at the Upper Ferry, and a reconnoitering party under Major Miller near Vanderen's mill. In addition, Potter kept a guard of about 100 men in and about his own camp. He now sent a detachment of an additional 100 men with the baggage wagons back six miles from his encampment where the wagons were to be unloaded and "carridges" made for the wagons to move the stones from Brandywine. On 3 November, he reported without identification that he had again been reinforced so that his total brigade numbered, exclusive of officers, about 950 men with arms, and 300 without. But four days later on 7 November, the tour of one battalion would expire, he said, and on the 9th two more, "and when there time is out they will go." On the east side of the Schuylkill, the Continental Army and Irvine's brigade had moved camp once more, this time down to the Whitemarsh hills where they had encamped 2 November. Three days later a return was made of 2nd Class men from Northampton County. Although dated at Billingsport, this would seem to be in error, inasmuch as the British had been in control of that fort since early October. The men, strangers to the neighborhood, might have been at Red Bank (Fort Mercer) or at Mud Island Fort (Fort Mifflin), and unaware of the difference. This class had been called out 23 August to go to Lancaster, 88 For the storm, see PMHB, VI, 53-53, cited in Note 68 above. For the order for removal of millstones, see ibid., XVIII, 469. 208 For Potter's detuhments, see ibid., XVIII, 475, and XIX (1895), 73-74. The major stationed ,,pr Venderen's mill was possibly Major George Miller of the Second Battalion, Philadelphia Co., serving with the county's 4th Class. The classes whose time was expiring were probably [hat class of Philadelphia Co., called up 6 September, for which see HI Series, V, 766, Cumberland Co.', 1nd Class, called at the same time, for which set 5 55 Series, VI, 517, and substitutes from Lancaster's 1st, 2nd and 3rd Classes, for which see ibid., VII, 1079, 1082, 1088. The Pennsylvania Militia in 1777 209 but probably had not mustered promptly and then had been held back for some time because of insufficient arms.'" RETURN OF COMPANY CAPTAINS, 2ND CLASS NORTHAMPTON COUNTY 102 Colonel George Breinig's Battalion "At Billingsport," 5 November 1777 Capt. Christian Johnston Capt. George Roudebush Capt. [mutilated] Lt. Benjamin [Ennis] Capt. Jacob Weigand Capt. George Knappenberger [of 2nd Co., First Battalion] [of 7th Co., Fourth Battalion] [probably of Third Battalion] [of 4th Co., Sixth Battalion] [of 2nd Co., Fifth Battalion] [of 2nd Co., Second Battalion] Rank and file 13 men 17 men 25 men 20 men 19 men 33 men 127 This same day Colonel William Coats, the Philadelphia County Lieutenant, sent off to camp "one good company" made up of men drawn from the 6th, 7th and 8th Classes of Colonel McVeagh's Third Battalion. Both he and Colonel Kirkbride of Bucks County had decided to call up all remaining classes and to hire no more substitutes. It had seemed to them that by the time the tour of duty of those now entering had expired, the season's campaign would be at an end, and they were "Desireous that they all should be on a futting," particularly since they hoped some alteration in the militia law would be made at the next session of the Assembly. It had taken Coats a week to gather the one company; he would follow them to camp "to arrange the Militia as they arrive."'" Men in the 4th, 5th and 6th Classes of the city militia were now nearing the end of their active-duty tours. A few days before each company was discharged, musters were held and returns made showing the state of each group. The date of entering service, in the case of privates, and appointments or date of commissions were generally listed, the class represented, and such data as present duty, desertions or other pertinent remarks were included. 101 For the army's move see PMI111, XXXV, 168. See Note 87 for the evacuation of Billingsport; also PMHB, LX, 37, and ibid., XVIII, 476, for the British occupation of it. Ti,, pension application of John Santee (Jr.), an ancestor of the author, dated 25 Aug. 1835, states that he was drafted in the 2nd Class from Northampton Co. in Capt. Weygandt's company and marched "to Whitemarsh near Philadelphia and arrived there shortly after the Battle of Germantown." He further stated that be "remained there and in the neighborhood until the Two months for which he was drafted had expired." He made no mention of Billingsport, as did others who were stationed there. See File W3462, National Archives, Washington, D. C. For the mention of ZOO men at Allentown, who were perhaps the 2nd Class, out October "probably waiting for arms," see 1s1 Series, V. 655. 102 For the return, see 3th Series, VIII, 148. For the captains' permanent billets, see ibid., 29 (Johnston), 314 (Roudebush), 425 (Ennis, who turned out in his proper turn with 2nd Class men from the sod Co. of his battalion), 369 (Weigand), 102 (XnePPcohcr 4")• 100 lot Series, V. 766. 210 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine Company Captains, Philadelphia City Militiai" Mustered 7 November 1777 Capt. John Byrnes, corn. 9 September 1777, 4th Class [of 4th Co., First Battalion] Capt. Christian Grover, corn. 19 September 1777, 66 Class [of 7th Co., Sixth Battalion] Capt. Jacob Weidman, corn. 11 September 1777, 6th Class [of 7th Co., Third Battalion] Capt. Christian Shaffer, corn. 16 September 1777, 6th Class [of 6th Co., Fourth Battalion] Mustered 8 November 1777." Capt. Williamson Tolbert, corn. 9 September 1777, 4th Class [of 5th Co., Third Battalion] Capt. Robert Smith, corn. 11 September 1777, 5th Class [of 5th Co., First Battalion] Capt. George Reinhardt, corn. 11 September 1777, 5th Class [of 6th Co., Third Battalion] Capt. William Bower, corn. 12 September 1777, 5th Class [of 6th Co., Fifth Battalion] Capt. John Bergman, cam. 11 September 1777, 6th Class [of 7th Co., Fifth Battalion] Capt. William McCulloch, corn. 9 September 1777, 4th Class [of 6th Co., Second Battalion] Mustered 9 November 1777 Capt. Philip Wagoner, corn. 9 September 1777, 4th Class [of 5th Co., Fifth Battalion] Capt. Joseph Rhoads, corn. 10 September 1777, 4th Class [of 4th Co., Sixth Battalion] Capt. Charles W. Peale, corn. 17 June 1777, 4th Class [of 4th Co., Fourth Battalion] Mustered 12 November 1777 Capt. Jonathan Wainwright, con, 11 September 1777, 5th Class [of 4th Co., Second Battalion] Mustered 14 November 1777 1" Capt. Lambert Wilmer, 5th Class [of fth Co., Fourth Battalion] While the militiamen under these officers were waiting for their discharge, other companies had arrived at camp. In York County, the County Lieutenant, Richard McCalester, had been struggling to gather enough men, from among "those Refactory set of People, which was more than the half of this County," to complete his quota. "The others being sometime gon," more of the 2nd and 3rd Classes, called into service 1.06 For these active-duty muster rolls, none of which iive the place of muster, see 6tb Series, 1, 274-275 (Byrnes), 397-398 (Grover), 401-403 (Weidman), 398-399 (Schaffer). Both Grover and Weidman, though from the 7th Co. in their respective battalions, had ash Class men under them. The return of Shaffer's company is incomplete and without date, but as it was made by the same deputy muster-master, Lambert Wilmer, it may have been returned at the same time. For the captains' permanent billets, see ibid.,1, 41, 418, 201, 294. 208 For the company musters, see ibid., 1, 269-270 (Tolbert), 498-499( Smith), 500-501 (Reinhardt), 504-506 (Bower), 399-401 (Bergman), 271-272 (McCullough); for their permanent billets, 199, 43, 202, 312 and 809, 354, 132. Bower's muster roll was returned 11 November, McCullough', on 9 November. 100 For the company MInta9, ,,. ibid.. 1, 275-277 (Wegener), 272-273 (Rhoads), 277-280 (Pel)e); for their permanent billets, 349, 410, 288. Rhoads' muster was returned 7 November, an obvious error if it was taken on 9 November. 2 00 For the muster, see ibid., I, 502-503; for Wainwright', permanent billet, 127. 109 For the musten on ibid., I, 503-504; for Wilmer's permanent billet, 192. The Pennsylvania Militia in 1777 211 6 and 12 September, had at last been started off on 27 October. Apparently three companies, under Colonel William Rankin of the Second York County Battalion, marched, and were among the reinforcements which had joined Potter's brigade by the first week in November. No active duty rolls have been found, perhaps because of Rankin's later defection to the British."' Three companies of the York County 3rd Class, under Colonel David Jameson of the Third Battalion, had marched at the same time. While no musters survive for these companies, one return, undated, identifies the officers. Out of 75 rank and file, 70 were fit for duty: RETURN OF 3RD CLASS, YORK COUNTY 1 " Commanded by Colonel David Jameson Capt. William McClean Capt. Joseph Reed Capt. William Gilliland 27 Fit 19 Fit 24 Fit 30 Total 20 Total 25 Total 3 on command 1 deserter 1 sick, 1 deserter 1 deserter In Berks County, by 9 November men of the 5th and 6th Classes, called up 23 October, had "pretty ginetally turned out and come to Reading," according to the County Lieutenant, Jacob Morgan. There were about 300 present, but very few "Arms Accoutrements or Blankets" had been procured for them, and the men were "unwilling to go to Camp without them." The 3rd and 4th Classes, already in camp, had "taken the greatest part of our arms, &c., we had in store," Morgan reported, and what he would "do for arms for the rest of the companies that are here and are coming in I know not." RELURN OF 5 TH AND 6TH CLASSES, BERES COUNTY M Commanded by Colonel Henry Spycker Mustered 9 November 1777 Capt. Michael Voyges [of 6th Co., Second Battalion] 38 Privates 5 Substs. 43 Total 105 See 1s1 Series, V, 692, for McCalester's report of 23 October that the two classes would much "an Monday nest" For the compmy officers of Rankin', permanent battalion, commissioned 1 October, see 6th Series, II, 457-460. For Rankin', presence in early November, see PMHB, XIX, 255. Potter had sent Rankin end Capt. "Livia"—probably the Capt. Thomas Lewis (Levis) of Chester County's 6th Co., Third Battalion, as printed in Sib Series, V. 551 and 1s1 Series, V. 691—to learn the results of an attack on Red Bank on 10 November. According to Potter, Rankin was "confidant that the fourt is ours yet and says he will wine: his hors against a gill of Whisque" on it. For Rankin's defection, see Wm. H. Egle, "The Constitutional Convention of 1776," PMHB, IV (MO), 223-229. 25.0 For the return, see 6th Series, II, 556. For the captains' pumanent billets in 1778, see thief., 516 (McC(ean, 3rd Co., Fifth Battalion); 576 (Joseph Reed, 3rd Co., Eighth Battalion, but according to Henry J. Young, should be Sixth Battalion, for which su Note 53 above); 504 (Gillilmd, led Co., Fourth Battalion). "'For Morgan', reports, see 1st Series, V. 756-757; VI, 14; for the mom, Sib Series, V. III. For the permanent billets of the captains, see ibid., 173 (Voyges), 192 (Shable), 204 (Rheim or Reehm and Eckert). 216 (Rhoads), 228 (Bretz), 229 (Weaver). 162 (Hill), 217 (Talbot, who turned out with the eth Class according to regulations). 212 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine Capt. Jacob Shable [of 6th Co., Third Battalion] Capt. George Rheim [of 5th Co., Fourth Battalion] Capt. Jacob Rhoads [of 5th Co., Fifth Battalion] Capt. Michael Bretz [of 5th Co., Sixth Battalion] Capt. Conrad Eckert [of 6th Co., Fourth Battalion] Capt. Henry Weaver [of 6th Co., Sixth Battalion] 59 Privates 5 Substs. 33 Privates 1 Subst. 34 Total 40 Privates 4 Substs. 44 Total 59 Privates 59 Total 25 Privates 1 Subst. 50 Privates 64 Total 26 Total 50 Total On 10 November Morgan sent off "two or three companies" which he was able to arm and accoutre. The rest had marched by 18 November. Two other companies were on special duty. Captain Jacob Hill, of the 5 th Company, First Battalion, with 34 men, had mustered 25 October, and was now standing guard at the powder magazine at Windsor. Lieutenant Joseph Talbot, of the 8th Company, Fifth Battalion, had a company of 19 men, all but three of whom were substitutes, who were guarding the stores of powder in Reading. Cumberland County's 3rd and 4th Classes, called out 23 October, had begun to assemble by this time. The pay of at least one company of 3rd Class men, that of Captain Samuel Patton, began 9 November. On 12 November, new commissions for William Donaldson and James Laird, captains of 3rd Class companies, and for Major James Carnahan of the First Battalion, on active duty with the 3rd Class according to regulations, were received from Timothy Matlack, possibly in Lancaster. Four days later on 17 November Captain William Sanderson received his new commission. Company Captains, 3rd Class Cumberland County". Commanded by Colonel William Chambers (Called up 23 October 1777) Noah Abraham [of 3rd Co., First Battalion] William Donaldson [of 3rd Co., Second Battalion] James Laird [of 3rd Co., Third Battalion] John Elliott [of 3rd Co., Fourth Battalion] Henry Taylor [of 3rd Co., Fifth Battalion] Samuel Patton [of 3rd Co., Sixth Battalion] William Sanderson [of 3rd Co., Seventh Battalion] James Poe [of 3rd Co., Eighth Battalion] When Captain Patton's company joined Potter's brigade at Newtown Square, probably u8 For the captains' permanent billets, see Note 38 above; for the active-duty company rolls, see 21sti Series, XV, 574-579. For the pay date of Capt. Patton's company, see 3r1 Series, VI, 664; for the commission dates, 510 Series, VI, 468, 595-596. The Pennsylvania Militia in 1777 213 some of the 4th Class men had already arrived there; at least one 4th Class company, that of Captain William Blame, appears to have been detached to go to the Brandywine mills to bring off the mill stones and floor. Blaine's new commission, however, and that of Captain Sanderson of the 3rd Class, were not received until 17 November from Timothy Matlack. Andrew McKee, whose 4th Class company's pay had begun on 4 November, and Alexander Peebles, whose 4th Class company's pay had begun 7 November, had each received their new commissions from Matlack on 12 November. Company Captains, 4th Class Cumberland County "8 Commanded by Colonel Samuel Lyon (Called up 23 October 1777) Alexander Peebles [of 4th Co., First Battalion] Alexander McKee [of 4th Co., Second Battalion] John Lamb [of 4th Co., Third Battalion] Philip Matthias [of 4th Co., Fourth Battalion] James Addams [of 4th Co., Fifth Battalion] 1st Lt. John Eaton [of 3rd Co., Sixth Battalion] [of 4th Co., Seventh Battalion] William Blaine William Long [of 4th Co., Eighth Battalion] From Northumberland County, militia of the 3rd and 4th Classes, called into service 23 October, started their march to the south on 11 November, under the command of Colonel James Murray of the Second Battalion. Council was advised that these men were "badly of for Blankets," and that several went "without any and but thinly clothed otherwise." At the same time, additional militia from York County were on their march to camp. According to the County Lieutenant, "about one half or some better.... perhaps 3 parts in 4" out of the 4th and 5th Classes, also called up 23 October, had left. Although "som parts [of] the Class made up a Company . . . for the Greatest Part I threw two Classes together where they were like to be small Companeys, and made one large one & made the ofesers cast lots who should goo." He reminded Council that "So many scrupolis people as we have [,] ocation much hiring and deter the business much . . . the Grate Number of Quakers, Mananest & Dunkers in this County ocations the Companeys to be so hard to be filled up," while "the others in the upper end of the County which is mostly Irish People and Low Dutch goes Prettey Gen118 For the captains' permanent billets, see Note 58 above; for the active-duty company rolls, me Series, XV, 579-584. See pension application of Samuel Cover (Fever), Mifflin Co., is Capt. Henry Taylor's 3rd Class company, and of Matthew Sliipton, MAIM Co., in Capt. James Addams' 4th Class company, for the rendezvous at Newtown Square; of John Shields in Capt. Blaine's 4th Class company, for the march to Brandywine mills; Pension Application', cited in Note 24 above. For the commission dates, see Note 112 above; for the pay dates, lib Series, VI, 247, for McKee's company, and 3r1 Series, VI, 670, for Feeble's company. 214 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine erall." No returns or musters for either these York County men, or for the Nothumberland County militia have been found."' On 7 November, the last two city artillery companies in service had been mustered at Whitemarsh prior to their discharge a few days later. These were the companies of Captain Peter Browne, commissioned 11 September, and of Captain John Ruper, first commissioned 27 August. Upon their discharge on 11 November, an effort was made to recruit two companies of artillery "out of those of the City that are now discharged." The organization of such new companies, however, presented some problems. Because the City Lieutenant could not call upon the citizens of Philadelphia to supply the artillery corps since the British had occupied Philadelphia, men leaving camp after their tour of duty had to be enjoined to remain, if possible, and if they did, there would not be enough substitutes left to be engaged for the last classes called up in the county. The situation was critical, for if the artillery corps could not be filled, the battalion of Jehu Eyre would have "to give up their pieces of Artillery, which is a thing the General [Armstrong] cant think of." '" Four small companies, totalling 52 men of the 5th Clan from Bucks County, called up 12 September, were mustered on 12 November, just before their discharge. No commanding officer was named, and one captain's name is partially mutilated. As with the return of Colonel Breinig's Battalion of 2nd Class men from Northampton County, made a week earlier, their station at Billingsport remains unexplained: STATION OF 5TH CLAM, BUCKS COUNTY " 6 At Billingsport, 12 November 1777 Capt. Zephaniah Lott [of 56 Co., First Battalion] if men 114 For reports from Northumberland Co., see 1st Series, V. 737, 762. On 1 November, Hunter had reported that the time of the 1st Class, stationed at Bald Eagle under Col. John Kelly, would expire on the 161h. By II November, however, these mm appear to have returned after serving two months, and two classes--probably companies—from Co! Cookson Long's Fourth Battalion, were sent to the frontiers. The only company known to have marched south under Col. Murray was that of Capt. Arthur Taggart, in 1778 of the 4th Co., Second Battalion, for which see 5 65 Series, VIII, 648, and pension application of Timothy Lennongton, Pension Applications, cited in Note 24 above. A company under Capt. Samuel Fisher, in 1778 of the 4th Co., Pint Battalion, also marched, hut whether, they were 3rd or 4th Class is unknown. See 5 eb Series, 637, and 2roi Series, XV, 765. For report from York Co., see In Series, V. 767-768. O. For the company musters, see 615 Series, I, 511-533 (Browne), 524-527 (Roper). See also Note 45 Move. For the artillery situation, see 1s6 Series, V. 767. 336 For the return, see Sib Series, V, 319. For the permanent billets of the known captains, see ibid., 316 (Z. Lott), 165 (H. Lott), 390 (Britton). See also the pension application of Joseph Sweeney, Lycoming Co., who was drafted in Capt. Zephaniah Lott's company, under Lt. Col. Mcblesters (of the First Battalion), m which Sweeney said he was attached to General Potter's brigade. According to Sweeney, they went from Newtown (Bucks or Chester Co.?) to Barren Hill Church, stayed there five or six weeks, marched back to Valley Forge, stayed there about a week, then marched to Edge Hill. See Pension Applications, cited in Nos," above. The Pennsylvania Militia in 1777 Capt. Homy Lott Capt. Abraham Britton Capt. Elijah [of 5th Co., Fourth Battalion] [of 5th Co., Fifth Battalion] Stank and file 215 19 men 8 men 10 men 52 The day of this return, General Potter reported the capture of five British soldiers, twelve light horse "and som feet prisoners," taken a week earlier. "We cach them nappin," he said. But the success of the British in finding a navigable passage between Fort and Province (State) Island, through which supplies could be brought up by the British from down river, was something Potter's few men could not prevent. Moreover, his numbers were being reduced again, as the time of more men of the 4th and th Classes from Philadelphia County, under Colonels William Dean and Robert Curry, ended the middle of November.' Nor was Potter's brigade able to prevent the erection of breastworks on Province Island opposite the fort on Mud Island, or the bombardment of the fort by the guns from that emplacement. Their fire, combined with that from the ships which had found a passage through the chevauxde-frise, sunk in the main channel of the river, succeeded after a week of constant bombardment, in reducing "forte Malin, alias mud Island." During the night of 15 November, the Americans evacuated the works. Only Fort Mercer, at Red Bank on the Jersey shore opposite, now still remained in the hands of the Americans, and free passage up the river for the British was almost accomplished." On the following Monday, a return of General Irvine's brigade showed a considerable increase in numbers since the return of 21 October. In theory, most of these men were from classes called out 23 October, but so much difficulty had been encountered in filling them, that as men and substitutes had arrived for duty, in many instances they were arbitrarily assigned classes, and small companies were merged to form larger ones. Of the total of 1767 men, 1401 were fit for duty, 84 were sick in camp, 230 were on command, and there had been 33 desertions. 33. Ise Series, V. 766, 769. A good many in the 4th and 5th Classes were apparently substitutes. Colonel Coats asked for 52000 so he could pay them, having engaged them "at 100 Dollars each." See also the pension application of Joseph Armstrong, cited in Note 63 above. In the 1st Class, Philadelphia Co., he had adisted for three months, was discharged 20 November, and ohm re-enlisted the neat day for a second tour of three months under Col. Curry in Capt. Moses (Joseph) McClene's 5th Class company, for whose permanent billet see Sod Series, V.705. 118 10 Strie; VI, 11; PMES, XIX, 370. For Potter's opinion on the inadvisability of storming the breastworks, see ibid., 73-74, 237. 216 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine RETURN OF SECOND BRIGADE UNDER GENERAL JAMES IRVINE in Camp in Wlaitemarsh, 17 November 1777 Phila. Co. Col. Frederick Antes 150 Fit 192 Total 16th Class] 7 capts., 12 Its., 5 sick, 33 on command Phila. Co. Major John Edwards 35 Fit 35 Total [7th Class] 1 capt. Chester Lt. Col. Matthew Boyd 73 Fit 74 Total 17th Class] 2 capts., 4 Its., 1 sick Chester Lt. Col. John Bartholomew 102 Fit 102 Total [6th Class] 3 capes., 5 Its. Chester Capt. Thomas Wilson 11 Fit 12 Total [3rd Class?] 1 capt., 1 It., 1 deserter Bucks Lt. Col. John Lacey 198 Fit 226 Total [6, 7, 8 Classes] 7 capts., 10 Its., 19 on command Lancaster Col. Robert Elder 340 Fit 483 Total [4, 5 Classes?] 12 capts., 22 Its., 36 sick, 98 on command, 21 deserters Capt. David Whitehill 45 Fit Lancaster 46 Total [2nd Class?] 2 capts., 1 It. Berks Lt. Col. George Miller 158 Fit 167 Total [5, 6 Classes] 3 capts., 4 Its., 4 sick, 2 on command Berks Col. Joseph Hiester 43 Fit 51 Total [3, 4 Classes] 2 Its., 8 on command Berks Col. Michael Lindemuth [no return made] Northampton Col. George Breinig 70 Fit 106 Total [2nd Class] 5 capts., 8 Its., 9 sick, 14 on command 103 Fit 126 Total Northampton Col. Michael Bobst [3rd Class] 5 capes., 8 leg., 5 sick, 12 on command, 10 desertions 73 Fit 147 Total Northampton Col. John Siegfried [4th Class] 5 capes., 10 Its., 24 sick, 1 desertion Identification of the classes commanded by these officers is largely speculative. Colonel Antes, of Philadelphia County's Sixth Battalion, probably had both 6th and 7th Class men. Major Edwards, of the County's Fifth Battalion, under the regulations of the militia act would normally be in charge of 7th Class men, but may have had 8th Class as well. Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Boyd, of Chester's Eighth Battalion, should have been in charge of 7th Class men, and Lieutenant Colonel John Bartholomew of Chester's Fifth Battalion, in command of 6th Class men. Baggage had been hauled for some of these soldiers 3 November. Captain Thomas Wilson, of Chester County's 3rd Company, Fourth Battahon, had either agreed to stay on for an extended tour of duty or was about to be discharged with late enlistments. The large number of men under Colonel Robert Elder, of Lancaster County's Fourth Battalion, were presumably 4th and 5th Class men, called out 1 October. Substitutes for earlier classes, enlisted late in Septem25-0 For payment of baggage hauled for Chester militia, see Sri Series, VI, 154. For substitutes enlisted in WhimbilPs Co., Lancaster Co., see 510 Series, VIII, 659-662, 763. For 4th Class Berk, Co. substitutes, see ibid., V, 206, 256, 258, 263-266, 268-270. Jacob Morgan, County Lieutenant, reported on 18 November that he had sent to camp from Berk, County 400 men, including officers, from the fth and 6th Classes under Col. Spycher. See 1s1 Series, VI, 14. Unless some had been sent to Potter, not all had arrived at camp by the date of this return. The Pennsylvania Militia in 1777 217 bar and early October, may have formed Capt. Whitehill's company. Lieutenant Colonel George Miller, of Barks County's Sixth Battalion, no doubt was in command of some of the 5th and 6th Class men who had mustered under Colonel Henry Spycker on 9 November. Joseph Hiester, of Barks County's Fourth Battalion, probbaly had 4th Class substitutes whose time had not yet expired. Lindemuth's battalion, also called up 27 September, for which no return was included here, may have been sent over to Potter's brigade. Colonels Breinig, Bobst and Siegfried normally would have had 2nd, 3rd and 4th Class men in their commands. About midnight on the night of 17 November, a force variously estimated at between two and five thousand British grenadiers and light infantry, led by Lord Cornwallis crossed the Schuylkill at the Middle Ferry, filed off into the Darby Road, and at the Blue Bell succeeded in surprising one of Potter's pickets. About 30 men of the 50 - man picket were either killed, wounded or taken prisoner. The British then proceeded on down to Chester, where late on the morning of the 18th they crossed over to Billingsport on the Jersey shore. When cannon, wagons and horses followed the troops, it was plain they intended an attack on Fort Mercer at Red Bank, opposite the abandoned Fort Mifflin on Mud Island, which was already being strengthened by the British. The approach of this force led the officers in charge at Red Bank to feel the place was no longer defensible, and early in the morning of 20 November this fort, too, was abandoned. Thus, after nearly two months' resistance, the Delaware River was finally open for the British.'" While this large force of British were across the Delaware, serious consideration was given in the American headquarters at Whitemarsh to the advisability of an attack on Philadelphia. A three-part plan was proposed. The main body of the army in three columns would attack the British lines extending from the Delaware to the Schuylkill just north of the city. General Greene with 2000 of his men in New Jersey, where they had been sent to keep a wary eye on Lord Cornwallis, would embark above the city, row down to Spruce Street or that neighborhood, and push through to the Commons. From there they would form a junction with a party of 500 Continental troops and the militia under General Potter, who would have possessed the hills on the west side of the Schuylkill so as to command an enfilade of the enemy's lines, and secure the bridge over the Schuylkill. At this time Armstrong estimated his militia on both sides of the Schuylkill—that is, Potter's and Irvine's brigades—at about 2400, of which 100 could not be armed until others were discharged. He had sent off, in addition to arms needing repairs, "the fitted Ammunition for the two Iron Cannon, Coll. Eayrs not 228 1st Series, VI, 23, 27-28; PMHB, XIX, 483, 484, 492. 218 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine having artillery men to work them, and the Guns themselves, being rather unwieldly for the field," he had sent back to Colonel Frederick Antes in the upper part of Philadelphia County "as a place of safety." It is not surprising that in view of his situation, he was not in favor of the plan, and probably was relieved when it was voted down by Washington's generals. As it was, the British recrossed the Delaware to the city on 26 November, and the opportune moment passed."' Two days before the British returned to Philadelphia, a general return was taken of the Pennsylvania militia "in the Service of the United States." Dated 24 November 1777, at "Camp Whitemarsh," its probable purpose was to inform the Council of the classes which so far had been called to active duty, since it listed classes from all the counties. On examination, however, the return must have been made at least a month earlier, for it included no classes called up on 23 October. The totals showed that up to the time it was made, 6848 rank and file had turned out, of which 6167 had been fit for duty, 337 had been on command duty, and there had been 432 desertions. Then at the end of that week on 29 November, Armstrong received another return, in referring to which he noted that he "was mistaken of the numbers of our Militia, 8c am corrected by the present return." This second return has not survived, apparently. At the same time, Armstrong informed Council that on Washington's orders he had recalled General Potter "with the best part of his Brigade" to the east side of the Schuylkill on the 28th. Now that the British were all back in the city, Washington, from a variety of intelligence received, believed that a general advance by the enemy against his forces could be expected. Neither Potter nor the British were able to move, however, because of a heavy rain, mixed with snow and sleet, which fell during the night of 28 November and all the next day. On the 30th, a small artillery company, formed largely from volunteers formerly in Peter Browne's company, mustered under the command of Jesse Williamson, Browne's former captain lieutenant."' 181 For the plan of attack, see ibid., XX (1896), 97; for Armstrong's opinion of it, ibid., 105, and for Irvine's, also disapproving, 106-107. For the British return to Philadelphia, see PMHB, VI, 194, cited in Note 68 above. While the main British forces were across the Delaware, the enemy remaining in the city on 22 November set Are to several of the houses, "including Dickinson,, that in which C. Thomson [hod] lived, Jon. Mifllin," and others beyond the city north of the British redoubts, which had served as "skulking places"—outposts—for the American advance pickets. Armstrong was ordered to send 600 of his division "to annoy them on the wings," so as to discourage any further advance, "but their party [the British] returned to Town." See lst Series, VI, 31, and entry of 22 Nov. 1777, Elizabeth Drinker Journal, MS, HOP. 020 For the return, not exhibited in the text, see a Series, V, 33-39. For Armstrong's estimation of his forces, and the recall of Potter, see III Series, VI, 50-32, 43. For the storrn, see Mahleriberg Journals, III, 109. For notice of the muster of Williamson', company of artillery, see PMHB, 111, 421, cited in Note 46 above. The Pennsylvania Militia in 1777 219 The militia under Potter, which finally crossed the Schuylkill to the east side the 1st of December, included Colonel James Murray's Northumberland County 2nd Clan men, Cumberland County's 3rd Class under Colonel William Chambers and 4th Class men under Major James Brooks of the Second Battalion, as well as York County's 4th Class under Colonel John Andrews, The Berks County 3rd Class which had probably been with the brigade and which had entered service 27 September, had been dismissed. Substitutes hired late in October were still on duty."' With the militia encamped behind breastworks thrown up along the hills overlooking the Whitemarsh valley, Captain Henry Darroch on 3 December mustered his 7th Company of the Bucks County Fourth Battalion, while more men from Berks County were discharged. During the following night, 4 acember, the British set out from the city in force and before daybreak had reached Chestnut Hill. At eight o'clock on the morning of 5 December, General Potter and a detachment of his brigade with a Continental regiment were ordered by way of Barren Hill Church "to Scrimedge on their left wing." According to Potter's report "nothing meteral hapned with us, we Killed 6 or 7 of them and had some desarters come to us." General Irvine, with 600 of his brigade —four battalions—was started off "on a different direction," with orders to send his men out in small parties. Crossing the Wissahickon below Flourtown, after waiting for a time for reinforcements which failed to join him, he marched toward the Germantown Road. Before he had his men dispersed, and as they were going up "a small hill," he fell in with a body of the enemy. "A warm scirmish" ensued for about twenty minutes, the enemy firing down on them. As Irvine was about to send his horse over a fence, three of his fingers were shot off and he fell. The militia, seeing Irvine taken prisoner, broke and ran, leaving behind a number of wounded.'°° Potter rejoined his brigade while the rest of Irvine's men moved from the hill on which they were encamped to the hills on the east side of the Bethlehem Road. Here they threw up a redoubt for their cannon and made a "stockage," as the men called it, of tree tops. Acn. See the pension application of Samuel Corer, cited in Note 113 above, for the battalions iss Potter's Command. According to Cever, the York County battalion was under Colonel "Antes or Landis,” obviously in error for Colonel Andrews. For Berk, Co. Sod Class substitutes paid off in Reading the fro week in December, see 08/, Series, V. 206, 262, 264, 260. 024 For Capt. Darrock's muster, see 506 Series, V. 405; for Seeks Co. discharges, Note 121 above. For the skirmishes at Chestnut HA, see lot Series, VI, 98, Potter" account, and 70, Armstrong's account. The XCCOUnt of Irvine's action is alm found in the eye-witness account of Joseph Long, of Union Co., in Capt. Andrew Reed's 7th Co., Sixth Philadelphia Co. Battalion, for which see Pension Applications, cited in Note 24 above. From Long's statement, it would seem that Irvine WM probably corning up Stanton Ave., having marched down from Militia Hill. 220 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine cording to Potter, "on the 6th nothing happened," but the following morning it was discovered that during the night the British had left Chestnut Hill. There Potter learned the British had marched off toward Edge Hill. He sent 80 men to scout the British rear, and with the rest of his brigade and Colonel '37ebb's Connecticut regiment, marched down through Springfield Township toward Thomas Wharton's place, "Twickenham," in Cheltenham Township. As Potter related it to Wharton a week later, about noon "we engaged in the woods Between your [Wharton's] and Emling's [Emlen's], my Contanental Rigment soon Broak, and the enfection Cached the Militia like lightaning; I got a number of the Militia to Rally, and the enemy and us stood and Vewed each other for some time, and when I was convinced there was no Reinforcement coming I returned to Camp." 123 On 8 December the British abandoned any thoughts of attacking Washington's strongly entrenched camp in Whitemarsh, and withdrew to Philadelphia, burning and ravaging the countryside on their march. General Potter and his men were immediately sent back over the Schuylkill to resume their patrol of the Lancaster and Darby roads. In addition to the battalions from Cumberland, Northumberland and York Counties, the Bucks County men under Lieutenant Colonel John Lacey, and the Philadelphia County battalion under Colonel Isaac Warner of the Seventh Battalion were now assigned to him. The tour of Lancaster County militia of the 4th and Sth Classes under Colonel Robert Elder, called out 1 October, was now at an end. At least one company, that of Captain Isaac Adams of the 4th Company, Ninth Battalion, was mustered on 9 December prior to its discharge, and then started on its way home through the Trappe. On the 6th, another company, perhaps that of Captain David Whitehill, had stopped over night at Pastor Muhlenberg's on its way to Lancaster."° 120 For the movement of Irvine's men after his canton, see the pension application of Joseph Long, cited above; for Potter's account of the action on the 7th, lot Sffiet, VI, 98-99. For a more extended account of the skirmish at Edge Hill, see William J. Buck, "The Battle of Edge Hill," Montgomery Co. Sketches, 11, 214-233, and Reed, Life, I, 350, curd in Note 68 above; also PMHB, LX, 42-44 for the British account. 120 Identification of the battalions sent with Potter across the Schuylkill is deduced in pan from the accounts of the engagement at Gulph Mills, for which see the text infra, and from the pension applications of the men engaged in it: Samuel Geyer, cited in Note 113; Capt. James Thompson and William Clark, cited in Note 71; also Henry Beard (Hardt), Capt. Samuel Fisher, Ens. George Gelwicks, listed in 2nd Series, XV, 763, 765, 766. See also "Memoirs of Brigadier General John Lacey of Pennsylvania," PMHIN XXVI (1902), 108, for reference to Edward Heston, at this time captain of the 6th Co., Seventh Battalion, Philadelphia Co., and for whose permanent billet, see Ind Series, XIII, 392. Normally he would have bnn in Col. Antes' battalion, but seems to have been assigned to Warners'. Lacey refers to Heston as a colonel, which rank presumably he attained lam. For the muster of Isaac Adams' company, me 116 Series, VII, 1090; for his permanent billet, 871 , Lt. James Patterson of the 6th Co., Second Lancaster Battalion, who had turned out according to regulations with Capt. Junes Morrison', 5th Co., was also on his way to Lancaster with men of Col. Robert Elder's Battalion of the 40h and 5tIs Class men. See 1s1 Series, VI, 33. On 6 Onember. a detachment of Lancaster militia under The Pennsylvania Militia in 1777 221 The decision to move the Continental Army into winter quarters somewhere on the west side of the Schuylkill had been reached by the 10th; before daybreak the next morning tents were struck and the army began to move out. Across the Schuylkill, Potter had stationed an advance picket near the "Bridge" at the Middle Ferry, another party of 100 at the Black Horse on the Lancaster Road some four miles beyond, with his main encampment at Charles Thomson's place, Harriton, in Lower Merion Township, on the Gulph Road, between four and five miles further out. Part of a strong force of British, sent out on a general foraging expedition, early on that same morning of 11 December was fired on by Potter's advance pickets, and the men posted at the Black Horse attacked what was possibly another group of foragers. Captain Edward Heston, presumably in Colonel Isaac Warner's Seventh Philadelphia County Battalion, brought word the British were advancing in force up the Gulph Road toward Potter at Harriton. Here, according to Potter, he "staeconed two Regments who attacted the enemy with Viger. On the next Hill, I staeconed three Regments, letting the first line Know, that when they were over powered, the[y] must Retreat and form behind the second line, and in that maner we formed and Retreated for four miles; and on every Hill we disputed the matter with them." The route of their retreat was back through Gulph Mills to the Swedes' Ford."' Meanwhile the main army had reached the Schuylkill at Matson's Ford (Conshohocken). Two divisions under General Sullivan had almost finished crossing the river, on a bridge of wagons lashed together, before they discovered the British had reached the heights overlooking both sides of the road to the Gulph. His position being untenable, Sullivan ordered an about face, and when his men had recrossed the river had part of the bridge drawn after them to prevent pursuit. The whole army then moved a mile or two inland before striking out for the Swedes' Ford, where Potter's brigade eventually joined them. Potter, unaware that the British had veered off from their pursuit of his troops, later complained that "had the Valant Generil Solovan Covered my Retreat with two Devissions of the Army he had in my Reare," his own men might have been rallied, since Sullivan's front "was about one half mill in my Rear, but he gave orders for them to Retreat and join the army who were on the other side of the Schuylkill, about one mile and a Half off from me." Capt. "White,"--possibly David Whitehill—had stopped at Pastor Muhlenberg's on their way home, for which see Mablenbers Phenols, III, 110. 127 For Potter's account of the engagement, see 1st Series. VI, 97-98. See also Samuel Gordon Smyth, "The Gulph Mills in the Annals of the Revolution," Montgomery Co. Sketches, III, 17S - 180, and "Matson', Ford," ibid., IV (ISIS). 66-67. for further notice of some men engaged at Gulph Mills. 222 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine Potter, nevertheless, felt that most of his "people Behaved well, espeally three Regements, Commanded by the Col' Chambers [of Cumberland County], Murrey [of Northumberland County] and Leacey" [of Bucks County]. He knew the British "light hors Suffered mutch, for they Charged us," and reported the capture of about twenty prisoners. Others in his command, however, performed less creditably. "For the tryal of those men who had thrown away their muskets, Cartouch Boxes [and] knapsack," Potter ordered a general court martial. Those found guilty were ordered to pay for the lost articles, or were publicly whipped "from fifteen to thirty lashes which caused much murmuring among the Militia." i" Late in the afternoon of 12 December, when it was certain the British had retired to the city, the Continental Army and Potter's men, most of whom had rejoined the brigade by then, left the temporary encampment at the Swedes' Ford and once more started to cross the river. By early morning of the 13th they had reached the vicinity of the Gulph Mills. Here they encamped during a severe snow storm, and remained until a definite location was chosen for the permanent winter quarters. General Armstrong, now in command of Irvine's brigade of about 1000 militia, remained on the west side of the Schuylkill. Although many of his men were without arms, and he was "without a single troop of horse," he was expected to blockade the roads leading into the city from Bucks County on the east to the Schuylkill on the west. Faced with "a task perhaps impossible fully to effect by, nor was it effected by the whole army," Armstrong urged the Council to appoint additional brigadiers. General Potter, a month earlier, had first requested leave to go home, inasmuch as in the last few years he had been there only three weeks, and Armstrong himself, after the strenuous summer, now felt unable to face a winter campaign during which any rest would "not perhaps two nights in one place" be obtained."' While Pastor Muhlenberg wrote in his journal the evening of 12 December, that "another several hundred militiamen, who have served their time, arrived from camp" on their way home, up in Berks County the time of others had just begun. The county's 7th and 8th Classes, summoned in mid-November when it was clear the 5th and 6th Classes would not turn out in adequate numbers, mustered for the first time on 13 December under the command of Colonel Jacob Weaver of the Fifth Battalion. Some of these had entered into service at the beginning of 1 7 . Reed, Life, I, 554-515, time! M Note 68 above; 1,6 Series, VI, 97-98; PMHB, XXVI, 110. i°I PM152, XVI, 156-157, cited or Note 61 above. For Potter's first request for leave, see ibid., XIX, 240, and for Ins Cr,,, Ise Series, VI, 85; for Armsteong's request, ibid., 90-91. The Pennsylvania Militia in 1777 223 the month, but had to wait for the company's full complement to assemble: RETURN OF 7TH AND 8TH CLASSES, BEAKS COUNTY Commanded by Colonel Jacob Weaver Mustered 13 December 1777 Capt. Daniel Reiff [of 7th Co., First Battalion] Capt. Henry Eagnor [of 8th Co., Second Battalion] Capt. Ferdinand Ritter [of 8th Co., Third Battalion] Capt. Sebastian Miller [of 7th Co., Fourth Battalion] Capt. Philip Krick [of 8th Co., Fourth Battalion] Capt. David Morgan [of 8th Co., Fifth Battalion] Capt. Jacob Kreamer [of 7th Co., Sixth Battalion] Capt. Philip Filbert [of 8th Co., Sixth Battalion] 26 Privates 2 Substs, 28 Total 29 Privates 8 Substs, 37 Total 45 Privates 14 Substs. 59 Total 27 Privates 2 Substs. 29 Total 25 Privates 25 Total 25 Privates 15 Substs. 40 Total 45 Privates 48 Total 48 Privates 48 Total The battalion's total rank and file amounted to 311, of whom 41 were substitutes, bringing Berks County's total of militia who had entered into service in all eight classes to 1772, exclusive of 317 officers. Probably the largest companies of these new draftees started their march for camp the same day they mustered, while the smaller companies were among those which, late on 17 December, had reached the Trappe, spent the night there, and then gone on to join Armstrong's militia near Spring House. By now General Armstrong had received a few light horse sent from Bucks County by the County Lieutenant, but "thro' many impediments" he had been unable as yet to send out any patrols to cover the Newtown, Bristol or Old York Roads. When the main army moved up to the neighborhood of the Valley Forge on the 19th and began to erect winter quarters, Armstrong decided to transfer several battalions from Potter's brigade to his own. Lieutenant Colonel Lacey's Bucks County Battalion of about 300 rank and file of 6th, 7th and 8th Class men, although their time would be up the end of the month, he sent to the "Cross Roads on the Old York Road near the Neshameny Creek." There 180 Mublenberg Journals, III, 113, 114. Possibly the militia mentioned by Muhlenberg were Maryland and Virginia mem they could hardly have been Pennsylvania militia, with the exception of some substitutes whose time was out and men who had enlisted for longer than the usual two months: see, foe example, pension of John Rumage, cited in Note 63, who had enlisted for four months, and was discharged the middle of December. For the return of the classes and total Berks' militia, see Stir Series, V, 132, 133; for the officers' permanent billets, ibid., 163, 179, 193, 200, 217, 229, 230. For Capt. Reiff, pay roll, showing tiroe of entering as I December ibid., 271-276. 224 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine they encamped on 20 December in the woods between the Cross Roads and "a Village called the Billit." "'• By 22 December, General Armstrong had also detached from Potter's brigade the battahons of Colonel Andrews' York County militia of the 4th and 5th Classes, and Colonel Murray's Northumberland County 3rd and 4th Classes. He now estimated his force at about 1600, and Potter's "yet in Chester," at between four and five hundred. A return taken that day, however, showed that Armstrong had a total of 2532 men, of which 1986 were fit for duty. Of these he had, not including Lacey's patrol, 198 out on command, and 172 sick in camp; there had been 99 desertions: RETURN OF MILITIA ON EAST SIDE OF SCHUYLKILL 122 Commanded by Major General John Armstrong Camp in Montgomery, 22 December 1777 Phila. Co. Bucks Chester Chester Lancaster Lancaster Lancaster York Berks 108 Fit Col. Frederick Antes 183 Total [6th Class] 8 capes., 14 Its., 10 sick, 35 on command, 26 deserters Lt. Col. John Lacey* 225 Fit 225 Total [6, 7, 8 Classes] 8 capts., 12 Its., 32 sick Lt. CoL Barthokunew 98 Fit 151 Total [6th Class] 4 capes., 6 Its., 7 sick, 35 on conunand, 7 deserters 111 Fit Col. 'William Gibbons * 137 Total [7, 8 Classes] 3 capts., 7 Its., 13 sick, 13 on command, 6 deserters 200 Fit Cot John Rogers 243 Total [6th Class] 7 capts., 13 Its., 29 sick, 9 on command, 13 deserters 131 Fit C,ol. John Boyd 165 Total [7th Class] 4 capts., 7 Its., 10 sick, 34 on command, 9 deserters Lt. Col. Geo. Stewart 179 Fit 185 Total [8th Class] 4 capts., 9 Its., 6 sick 120 Fit Col. John Andrews 165 Total [4, 5 Classes] 5 capts., 6 Its., 19 sick, 14 on command, 29 deserters 255 Fit Col. Henry Spycker 276 Total [5, 6 Classes] 7 capts., 11 Its., 11 sick, 1 on command, 1 deserter 181 Id Series, VI, 101; PMHB, XVI, 157. For the size of Lacey', battalion, for which no musters have been found, see 1s1 Series, VI, 96; for his detachment to the east side of the Schuylkill, see PMHB, The Cross Roads was the imersection of the Old York Road and the Bristol Road on the line XXVI, 265. between Warminster and Warwick Township in Bucks Co. Washington had encamped here the previous The Billet was the Crooked Billet, scene of the bloody engagemmt in May, 1778, in the village 311.111Mer. of Hatboro. 1.02 For the return, see f tb Series, V, 40-43; for Armstrong's estimate of his numbers and Potter's, 1st Series, VI, 122. So far as is known, the only battalions left with Potter were probably those of Col. Warner's 7th and ash Class men from Philadelphia Co., Col. Chambers' sod and 4th Class men from Cumberland Co„ plus some assorted substitutes who had entered into service late. Warner's battalion was being recruited in early November, but apparently only one company under Major Edwards had mustered by 17 November. See also the summons of Lt. Isaac Worrel to serve in the 8th Class, as noted in 600 Series, 1,717. The Pennsylvania Militia in 1777 Col. Jacob Weaver 160 Fit 160 Total 3 capts., 6 Its., 1 deserter Northampton Lt. Col. Abr. Miller 176 Fit 181 Total 4 capts., 10 Its., 6 on command, 6 deserters Northampton Lt. Col. Kerns 119 Fit 135 Total O capts., 9 Its., 8 sick, 51 on command N'umberland Col. James Murray 104 Fit 226 Total 4 capts., 5 Its., 27 sick, 11 deserters Berko 225 [7, 8 Classes] [5, 6 Classes] [3, 4 Classes] [3, 4 Classes] Cols. Antes, Bartholomew, Gibbons and Lacey taken from Last weeks return. Of the thirteen separate battalions on this last surviving return for 1777, the first four were very near the end of their tour of duty. Three of them—Antes', Bartholomew's and Gibbons'—like Lacey's were probably posted on roads leading into the city and in no position to send in returns. They would have been following instructions from Washington, which were "none other than taking a variable station on every leading road, betwixt Schuylkill and Delaware, of which . . . there are to the number of nine that may be called Capitol roads.... Standing Picquets must be placed on every road, and Patroles aided by a few light Horse to proceed as near the Enemy as may be reasonable." Their chief purpose would be only "to compete with smaller partys of the enemy, prevent such from proceeding into the Country, & intercept the business of marketing, or any other intercourse of the disaffected with the Enemy, as far as circumstances will admit." This was what Potter had been trying to do with his brigade on the west side of the Schuylkill, and with an adequate force it would not have been impossible. But as Potter had learned, such operations presented "inconveniences, particularly, feeding the men, changing the Battalions when some are free, delivery of Arms, Furthermore, time was running out for almost all the other nine battalions listed on this return. Called out 23 October, the few who had entered into service before November would be discharged the end of December. Colonel Spycker's 5th and 6th Classes of Berks County men, las For the instructions, as understood by Armstrong, see 100 Series, VI, 122-121. Because of lack of muster rolls and adequate records, the precise dates of discharge rensain uncertain. Antes battalion, called up in mid-Septernber, probably was not fully organized until after the main army went into camp in Neer Hanover Twp. on 22 September, and he was receiving substitutes as late as December, for which see pmsion application of Henry Ohl, cited in Note 73 above. After his discharge from the 5th Class under Capt. Peter Richards in November, Ohl joined Capt. Andrew Reed's 7th Co. of the Sixth Battalion as acting first lieutenant, attached to Antes' battalion, and continued in service January 1778.” In Chester Co. payment, for hauling baggage 27 Oct. and 1 Nov., and to Capt. David Hay of the ash Co., Second Battalion, for beef for his men on II Nov., indicate some of the master's 6th Cl,,,, called out 23 October, were then in service; see 3rd Series, VI, 154, 157. Presumably Co!. Gibbons' battalion turned our at the Km time. 226 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine and Colonel Murray's 3rd and 4th Classes from Northumberland County, would be through the first week in January. Only Colonel Weaver's 7th and 8th Classes from Berks, Lieutenant Colonel Miller's 5th and 6th Classes from Northampton, and a few of the Lancaster County men would be still in service in February. Before any of them were discharged, however, they were sent out on one last sortie. A large part of the British army on 22 December had again crossed the Schuylkill in search of forage and fresh food, and encamped along the road "from Grays ferry to the heights below Darbey." Washington dispatched a detachment of Morgan's riflemen and militia to harrass the foraging parties and keep them as closely confined as possible. On the 23rd, Armstrong, instructed to create a diversion on his side of the Schuylkill, placed Colonel John Bull, Adjutant General of the militia, in temporary command of the Second Brigade, and sent orders to Lacey to march his men early the next morning to the lower end of Germantown where they would be joined by other troops and receive further orders.°'4 Five battalions joined Lacey at the rendezvous. Two under Colonel Antes had come down from the country by the Ridge Road, the others, under Colonel Bull, by Germantown Road. Placing one of his battalions under Lacey's command, Bull led the march to "Within Musquet Shot of the Enemies Lines," driving in their pickets. Between "third and fourth streets" on the right of the Germantown Road, he drew up his men at one of the enemy's redoubts. With his two twelve-pounders he sent "8 well diracted Cannon Ball, Which no Doubt Took Place [landed] near ye Church." As he later reportEd, "We Wish'd them a Merry Crismes by causeing them to Beat to arms and fire their Cannon from the Lines from all Qurs., their Ball Raked our Little Parade both on Right and Left, but without the Least Damage." After remaining under arms for about two hours, the militia retired, Lacey back to his camp near the Cross Roads, Bull with his men to their camp near Spring House, bringing off "one Prisoner, some of their [British] Horses, &c." The return of the militia to their camps was none too soon. On 144 For Potter's account of the British movements, see 1st Series, VI, 141. For Lacey's instructions, see PMHB, XXVI, 265-266, cited in Note 126 above. tux For Colonel Bull's whimsical account of the engagement of the militia, see 1s5 Series, VI, 128-129, in which he was directed to take six regiments with him, and ibid., 155-134. In his report he stated he had two companies of artillery with him. One of these would have been Capt. Jesse Williamson's, mentioned ha Note 122 above, the time of whose service would expire 10 Jan. 1778. The second company was perhaps that of Capt. Alexander McCaragher of Chester County's Fifth Battalion, attached to one of the two Chester battalions in Bull's brigade. See 555 Series, V, 695. The Pennsylvania Militia in 1777 227 Christmas afternoon it began to snow and continued all that night and for the next two days. By the 28th, the drifts were deep and the temperatures bitterly cold. In Radnor, Potter had been unable to move his brigade, all but 100 of whom would be discharged "about the fifth of next month," until after the snow stopped that afternoon. By the 31st, they had crossed the frozen Schuylkill and joined Armstrong at the "Camp Eastward of Bartholornews," above Spring House. There Armstrong, "already half frozen in this frigid zoan," was almost ready to set out for his home in Cumberland County. He would leave Colonel Bull in charge "until some further appointment take place," once Potter, who agreed to stay on for ten or twelve days, should leave for his home.' 86 Two weeks before Armstrong deRarted, he had expressed his opinion of the performance of the militia during the year's campaign: Many, too many of the militia, are a Scandle to the military profession, a nusance in service & a dead weight on the puhlick; yet is it equally true, that taken as a body, they have render'd that Service that neither the State nor the Army cou'd have dispenced with. They have constantly mounted guards, form'd many & distant Pickquets, perform'd many occasional pieces of Labour—Patroled the Roads leading to the Enemy by day & by night, & that more than their proport,on—they have taken a number of prisoners, brought in deserters, suppressed Tories, prevented much intercourse betwixt the disaffected & the Enemy—Met and Scirmished with the Enemy as early & as of ten as others, and except the Battle of Brandiwine, of which from their Station little fell in their way, have had a proportional Share of Success, hazard, & loss of blood."' Nor was Armstrong alone in this opinion. Colonel Joseph Reed had served with him since before Brandywine as a volunteer without a command of his own. From two year's association with both the militia— he had been commissioned a lieutenant colonel of the city's Second Battalion of Associators in 1775 — and with the Continental Army, first as secretary on Washington's staff and then as Adjutant General, he was in a position to take as dispassionate a view as any. Reporting to the Council on 1 February 1778, from the camp at the Valley Forge where "Re‘36 For the weather, see Muhlenberg (amt.ls, III, 208, and entry of 28 Dec. 1777, Elizabeth Drinker Journal, MS, NSF. For Potter's and Armstrong's situations, see lst Series, VI, 141, 148-149. On the 30th, Armstrong said that "Co the space of two days Eight Battalions will be free, nor can they be kept art hour beyond the time. The residue will also be free in some short time, perhaps ten days, so y8 there is danger of a chasm." According to the pension application of John Frederick Ream, Center Co., who was Co the 6t.18 Class under Capt. Christian Hollinger of the 6th Co., Ninth Lancaster Battalion, serving under Col. John Rogers, Ream was discharged 28 D.. 1777; see Pension Applications, cited Co Note 24 above. The company of Capt. Martin Weaver of 6th Co., Fourth Battalion, also under Rogers, was mustered at camp in Montgomery Top,, 30 D.., before thee discharge; they had entered into service 5 Nov., for which see 510 Series, VII, 527-528. 187 155 Series, VI, 100-101. 228 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine form and Re-Establishment of the Army" was under discussion, Reed wrote: I have not been able to think of any new Regulation for the Militia which are practicable in our present Situation; the System in the main is a good one. Defects, in my opinion, do not proceed so much from the Plan (except the Choice of Officers) as from the Want of competent Persons to execute it. While our State is the Seat of War & I fear it will be for some Time, the Militia will be called for frequently and largely; it improves, I think, every Day, & I am persuaded will in time be as good as any of its neighbors. You must not judge of it altogether by the Report of Continental Officers; it is fashionable to blame them & it is sometimes carried to blameable length?" As Reed had rather expected, no major alterations were made in the militia's organization that winter. The two laws touching the militia, passed 26 and 30 December 1777 by the Assembly in Lancaster, had only increased the fines to be collected from the so-called non-associators and conscientious objectors, and from those able-bodied men who neglected or refused to march when called up."' Reed was also correct in his estimation of the continued service of the militia. Although the season's campaign was over for the Continental Army, militia were on active duty during the entire winter. On 9 January 1778, John Lacey was promoted to brigadier general, and ordered to assume their command. "The whole eight Classes of the Militia of the interior counties having been called into the field," in January two classes from Cumberland (the 5th and 6th), two from York (the 6th and 7th), and two from Northampton (the 7th and 8th), were ordered to join Lacey's camp "near Graham Park." One class from Northumberland—the5th—also ordered out, was later cancelled, and instead three classes of Colonel Cookson Long's Fourth Battalion "that lives on the West Branch," were sent to the frontiers to guard against the Indians. In March, the 7th and 8th Classes of Cumberland, and the 1st Class of Philadelphia County were called into service, and the 8th Class of York County was embodied to relieve Continental troops in Lancaster which had been ordered back to Valley Forge."' Though Lacey's numbers during the winter were small—he never had more than 500 rank and file in his command—the duty was hard. Posted in small parties on the roads leading to the enemy's lines, much of 1SO Ibid., VI, 219-220. 159 See Note 10 above. sal Colonial Records, XI, 391, 198, 442, 447; 11 Series, VI, 117, 168-169, 171-176, 191-192, 390. The Pennsylvania Militia in 1777 229 the men's time was taken up in hunting provisions for themselves, since they were at "too Grate a distance to be supplied by the commissary." "I Not until the British evacuated Philadelphia in mid-June, 1778, was the militia near the city relieved of its strenuous duty and the danger of attack. The classes serving on the frontiers, on the other hand, were less fortunate. Long after the Revolution was over, they continued to be called out on active duty to watch for and repel Indian excursions. In the eastern counties, the classes were less frequently called up after the Revolution, and then usually it was for less hazardous duty. However, exercise days and battalion days continued to be held regularly, and the men were always subject to possible call-up. The militia records which reflect such active duty as the men were called upon to perform, however, are beyond the scope of this present study, since the intent has been only to render more intelligible the basic organization of the militia as established in 1777, and to present an interpretation of militia operations during that year only. Billing's-Port, July 27, 1777 EIGHT DOLLARS Reward DESERTED about the 20th instant, from Capt. Ezekiel Len's company, of the first battalion, of Philadelphia militia, commanded by Col. William Bradford, a certain Charles Milton, a shoemaker by trade; he has been out in the first battalion of Pennsylvania regulars, last year, and sometimes wears old uniform, viz, brown faced with green; he is about 25 years of age, about 5 feet 6 inches high. Whoever apprehends the said deserter and secures him in any goal on the continent, or brings him to his company, at Billing's-Port, shall have the above reward, and reasonable charges, paid by EZEKIEL LETTS, Captain Pennsylvania Gazette, July 30, 1777 Montgomery township, July 28, 1777 NOTICE is hereby given to all persons that have served in their own turns or others, in the First Class, Fourth Battalion, Philadelphia county Militia, in Captain JOSIAH m Ibid., 226, 291. 230 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine HART'S company, then under the command of Colonel DANIEL HEISTER, to meet at the house of Colonel WILLIAM DEANS, in Horsham township, the 9th day of August next, then and there to deliver up all public arms, accountrements, Ire, and receive the remainder of their pay due. GEORGE SMITH, Sub-Lieutenant N.B. They are desired to meet at ten o'clock. Pennsylvania Gazette, August 6, 1777 Philadelphia, August 19, 1777 NOTICE is hereby given, That the Lieutenant of the county of Philadelphia, together with one of the Sub-Lieutenants and one Justice of the Peace, will meet at Germantown, at the house of the Widow Norris, the sign of the Ring of Prussia, on Monday, the first day of September next, at 9 o'clock in the morning, at which time and place all persons residing within the districts of the Second, Third and Seventh Battalions of the county, commanded by the Colonels Moore, M'Veagh and Warner, who shall think themselves aggrieved by any thing done in purformance of the Militia Act, are desired to attend. And all such persons so aggrieved, residing within the districts of the Fourth and Fifth Battalions of the said county, commanded by Colonels Dean and Curry, are desired to attend the said Lieutenants and Justice at the house of John Wentz, in Whitpain township, on Wednesday, the third day of September next, at nine o'clock in the morning. And all such persons so aggrieved, residing within the districts of the First and Sixth Battalions of the said county, commanded by the Colonels Heister and Antis, are desired to attend the said Lieutenants and Justice, on Friday, the fifth day of September next, at nine o'clock in the morning, at the house of John Stettler, in Limerick township, on the Reading Road. WILLIAM COATS, Lieutenant Pennsylvania Gazette, August 20, 1777 Fort Island, August 26, 1777 EIGHT DOLLARS Reward DESERTED, on the 12th instant, from Captain John Reynard's company, 2d battalion Philadelphia county militia, commanded by Colonel Moore, a certain John Moyers, by trade a tanner, about 5 feet 10 or 11 inches high, of a sandy complexion, straight short hair, this country born, speaks both Dutch and English, had on a dark hunting shirt, striped twilled trowsers, but sometimes wears buckskin breeches and cloth leggings; it it likely he will make for Virginia, as his people lives there. Whoever secures said deserter, so that he may be conveyed to his regiment, shall have the above reward and reasonable charges, paid bv JOHN REYNARD, Captain Pennsylvania Gazette, August 27, 1777 The above deserter is a substitute, and has received his bounty.